The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7444 p333
24 March 2007

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PSNC expects substantial adverse changes to distribution

Substantial adverse changes to the drugs distribution system are expected in the coming 12 months, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has warned.

Commenting on Pfizer’s sole distribution agreement with UniChem, PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe said that other companies — and not just AstraZeneca — were waiting to follow suit.

Speaking at this week’s local pharmaceutical committees’ conference, Mrs Sharpe said: “The present full-line wholesale system, on which all pharmacies depend to be able to meet patient needs, and our ability to source even very rarely used medicines for patients promptly and easily, could come under real threat.”

Mrs Sharpe also said that the current review of pharmacy contracting was worrying becaues it was intended to give primary care trusts more power over contracts at a time when services were being culled.