The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7449 p488
28 April 2007

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Letters to the Editor

Wholesaling

There now seems little point to the BAPW

From Mr A. Bush

I have followed with interest, the hubris surrounding the Pfizer arrangements for distribution of its products to UK pharmacies. As an independent service provider to the NHS and the health care industry, I am continually updating my clients of the situation regarding distribution.

The response to Pfizer’s arrangements from the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers, and particularly AAH, suggested total opposition to the fee for pack model (where pharmacies pay a flat fee for an order rather than a percentage of the total cost of an order). I now read in the national press that AstraZeneca has struck a similar agreement with UniChem and AAH. Am I missing something or is this not a volte-face? AAH appears to have turned 180 degrees. Where does this leave Phoenix and others with their pharmacy chains? There now seems little point to the BAPW. As other such agreements are likely to follow, it now appears the UK infrastructure for distribution is going to deteriorate in terms of flexibility and increase its cost to carry out its functions.

Will the OFT investigation have an 11th hour intervention?

Alan Bush
Tenbury, Worcestershire

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