The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7461 p71
21 July 2007

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Letters to the Editor

Pfizer

Pfizer distribution model is not working

From Mr G. A. Largue, MRPharmS

On Monday I placed an order for one pack of Cardura XL 8mg via UniChem which went through as normal. On Tuesday UniChem telephoned to say that there was a shortage and that I would have to telephone Pfizer to order this item. I telephoned Pfizer and was told to send a fax stating the quantity required and when they were required, which I did, stating that I required them the next day. I then left for a few days’ holiday.

On Wednesday Pfizer called the pharmacy asking if I really required 12 boxes and saying that it could deliver them on Friday. I queried this with Pfizer and was told that it has a three-day standard delivery time. I asked why, even though I had sent my first fax through at about lunchtime, it had taken it until the next day to telephone the pharmacy. It did not really answer that question. I again asked it to send the order for the next day and after a call back Pfizer confirmed that this was possible.

When I telephoned my pharmacy to tell staff it would be in the next day, they said that they had just transmitted the Cardura XL order to UniChem and that it had gone through fine. Why could the person at Pfizer customer services not just have told me that UniChem now had stock available and to order from it as normal? Pfizer obviously does not monitor UniChem’s stocks.

To quote David Watson, director of trade at Pfizer (PJ, 23 June, p736): “… the consequences of not managing supply would be that traders could buy large quantities of product to sell on, which would lead to market shortages and jeopardise supply for UK patients.”

Pfizer is still having market shortages despite its “controls” being in place. This shows that the Pfizer distribution model is not working. It has a complete disregard for the continuity of supply for my patients as it seems to think it is acceptable for my pharmacy to be out of stock of one of its products for four days. And, finally, it seems to think I have time to make numerous telephone calls and faxes simply to order its product.

In the good old days I would have been able to switch my order to my second-line wholesaler and probably received some of the goods required within 24 hours.

Gordon Largue
Huntly, Aberdeenshire

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