Wholesaling

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The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7433 p12
6 January 2007

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Letters to the Editor

Wholesaling

Pfizer’s different discounts

From Mr P. J. Reeder, MRPharmS

Would the head of trade for Pfizer, David Watson, care to explain to pharmacists why he is offering an 8.5 per cent discount on purchases by pharmacies when he is offering 10.5 per cent to dispensing doctors? For a pharmacy to be allowed 10.5 per cent requires an annual spend of £1m. Dispensing doctors will get 10.5 per cent on all purchases.

He states in his letter that he is taking into account the interests and views of pharmacy. He is clearly more interested in the interests and views of doctors.

Phil Reeder
Lincoln

DAVID WATSON, head of trade at Pfizer, responds:

Pharmacists are an important customer group for Pfizer which is why we have developed a community pharmacy discount scheme that we believe is fair and will not negatively impact pharmacy purchase profit. Dispensing doctors are subject to a different claw-back mechanism that is higher than that for community pharmacy and are already offered separate discount schemes from their wholesalers.

Following consultation with the Department of Health, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the Dispensing Doctors’ Association, Pfizer’s discount scheme has been developed to reflect current market practice.

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