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Letters to the Editor
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Medicines distribution
Reply from Amit
Makwana, managing director, Astellas Pharma Ltd
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Supply of Prograf
From Mr G. A. Largue, MRPharmS
With reference to Ross
Ferguson’s letter (PJ, 6 October
2007, p382) regarding supply problems with Prograf capsules, I have also
found the
availability of this product to be sporadic, with both my two main wholesalers
regularly out of stock.
I telephoned Astellas Pharma on a Friday to order Prograf because Phoenix
and Munro were out of stock. I was told that I would receive the order
by courier on Monday, and that I would be invoiced through my normal
wholesaler.
However, I was also asked for my UniChem account number,
the account number that I use only for my Pfizer products. When I asked
why this was required I was told that the Prograf capsules might be
delivered via UniChem.
When my Pfizer order arrived on Saturday morning
there was
also a bag containing the Prograf capsules that I had ordered, although
they will still be invoiced via my normal first-line wholesaler.
I have also been told by one of my wholesalers that some of their customers
have been told that Prograf is only available via UniChem.
I would like to ask Astellas Pharma Ltd the following questions:
• Is it only supplying pharmacies via UniChem?
• If so, why has it not made it public knowledge and let other wholesalers
and pharmacies know?
• Why do we have to telephone its customer services department every
time we need to order?
This convoluted and opaque supply chain causes delays in supplying essential
medicines to patients, wastes time that should be spent on our patients
and is unprofessional.
This is at a time that the Government and pharmacy
representatives are working to deliver a contract that is focused on
getting pharmacists off the telephone to suppliers and out talking
to patients. Gordon Largue
Huntly,
Aberdeenshire
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AMIT MAKWANA, managing director, Astellas Pharma
Ltd, responds:
Timely and reliable supply of all medicinal products is
critical and it is
particularly vital that transplant patients receive their prescribed
medicines regularly.
I can confirm that we have appointed UniChem, with its service and
coverage expertise, as our sole distribution logistics service provider
in the UK for all our transplant
medicines. This announcement was communicated publicly on Monday 12 November
2007 and before that date we advised key stakeholders of our decision.
This change has been made in response to reports from UK pharmacists that they
have had difficulties obtaining Prograf for their patients from their wholesaler.
When we learnt that transplant patients were experiencing problems getting
their medicines, we had to take immediate interim measures and set up an emergency
delivery service.
These reports escalated quickly and we therefore took urgent
action to distribute all our transplant medicines direct to pharmacists and
other
dispensing points with effect from 26 November 2007.
This change only applies to our transplant medicines. All other Astellas
Pharma products can be ordered in the usual way.
The vast majority of dispensing sites are already ordering some, or all,
of their medicines through UniChem and will be able to order our transplant
medicines
(Prograf and Advagraf) through their existing accounts. UniChem will be contacting
all customers shortly to confirm the ordering processes.
Any dispensing site
that does not currently have a trading account with UniChem and wishes
to obtain our transplant medicines from 26 November should contact UniChem
immediately
by telephoning 0800 389 3455 or e-mailing sales_customersupport@unichem.co.uk
Astellas hopes readers understand that this decision was not taken lightly.
Our responsibility as holders of the UK marketing authorisation for Prograf
and Advagraf
is to ensure the supply of these vital medicines to pharmacists and their
patients in the UK. |
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal