The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7433 p4
6 January 2007

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Concerns continue over distribution arrangements

A lack of consultation with community pharmacy groups by pharmaceutical companies planning to review their distribution arrangements has again been highlighted by the National Pharmacy Association. And health minister Andy Burnham admits, in his response to a parliamentary question on the matter, that there has been no formal consultation with relevant bodies.

The NPA has called for industry-wide discussion about the future of the pharmaceutical supply chain, responding to reports that AstraZeneca and other manufacturers might make changes to their distribution systems similar to those announced by Pfizer (PJ, 16 December 2006, p725). The NPA maintains that a multiplicity of distribution and discount structures within the UK introduces vulnerability into the supply chain and increases the burden of administration for pharmacists.

Mr Burnham confirmed that the Department of Health had been informed by Pfizer and AstraZeneca of their intentions to alter existing distribution arrangements. “Ministers have had no official meetings with representatives of pharmaceutical companies and wholesalers to discuss the potential consequences of the proposed changes on the pharmaceutical distribution network. However, the Department has received a number of letters from wholesalers and their representatives on these matters,” Mr Burnham told the Government.

John D’Arcy, the NPA’s chief executive, said: “It isn’t good enough for these schemes to be decided behind closed doors — there needs to be some joined-up thinking. … Effectively, Pfizer and AstraZeneca and others are dictating the systems for distribution without testing for vulnerability or seeking the advice of [pharmacists].”

Martin Sawer, executive director, British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers, said that the BAPW has written to Mr Burnham detailing concerns over the cumulative effect of changes to the wholesale distribution market on competition and the NHS.

“ We want to have a grown-up discussion on the implications on the robustness of the supply chain for the NHS, for example, in the event of a flu pandemic or an extreme need for pharmaceuticals,” he added.