The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7452 p576
19 May 2007

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ABPI defends direct-to-pharmacy protagonists

Drug manufacturers' right to change their distribution arrangements has been defended by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry at a media briefing this week.

The ABPI was asked whether it was concerned that direct-to-pharmacy distribution arrangements would upset the service traditionally offered to community pharmacists and their customers.

Richard Barker, ABPI director general, replied: “Any company who would imperil the delivery of its products to its customers would be shooting itself in the foot. So I can’t believe that companies who have either done something in this direction or are thinking about doing something in this direction would do so in order to have [that] outcome.”

Dr Barker went on: “To say that they don’t have the right to think about how their products should be delivered … would be wrong.”