Government Writes Lethal Prescription For Local Pharmacies

2.43.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 9th Sep 2004

Hundreds of local pharmacies are under threat due to new Government proposals allowing large shopping centres to by-pass regulations and open pharmacies. Regulations could be side stepped if the developments plan to open more than 100 hours a week.

Brian Cotter MP, Liberal Democrat Small Business Spokesman, has tabled a Parliamentary motion pressing Ministers to abandon the controversial plans, which could lead to an eight-fold increase in the number of chemists entering the market.

Commenting, Brian Cotter said: "Many community pharmacists are rightly concerned they will be forced out of the market as a result of these proposals.

"Their businesses will be vulnerable to aggressive competition from supermarkets and large shopping developments.

"So, rather than extending consumer choice, the elderly and those unable to travel further afield, could find themselves without access to a local pharmacy.

"The Government will be administering a lethal prescription to community pharmacies unless Ministers make a u-turn on this issue.

"It is disgraceful that Ministers attempted to bury their intention to press ahead with these controversial plans by announcing the decision during the summer recess.

ENDS

Notes

• For further details regarding the views of the National Pharmaceutical Association, please contact Judy Viitanen, Head of Public Relations on 01727 858687 ext 3440 or e-mail j.viitanen@npa.co.uk

• On the 18th August 2004, the Department of Health announced its intention to press ahead with changes to the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992. Under these proposals, certain types of pharmacy will be exempt from the usual entry requirements that apply to the market. Under the proposed changes, pharmacies will be allowed to open without restriction if they meet any of the four following requirements: 1) they are to be based in a large shopping development of 15,000sq metres or more, 2) they will open in excess of 100 hours a week, 3) they form part of a new one stop primary care centre 4) they are to open as a wholly mail order or internet based pharmacy.

Whilst welcoming any moves that genuinely widen consumer choice, the Liberal Democrats fear that this will in fact have a detrimental effect by providing unfair competition to the smaller community pharmacies that elderly people and those in lower income groups rely on in particular.

Further details of the proposals are available at:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/enCONTENT_ID=4087902&chk=n7VbCg