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We are doing all we can to tackle medicines shortages, says Gareth Jones, NPA public affairs manager

AS PART OF the Manifesto for Independent Community Pharmacy project, the NPA convened a task group charged with innovating improvements to processes and relationships in the supply chain.

One result is the Medicines Supply Chain Toolkit €“ the second in a number of toolkits that are being produced to equip NPA members to handle day-to-day matters of pharmacy business and practice. Included in this toolkit are:

• A branded product availability chart, which shows which wholesalers supply the product of the manufacturers that use direct-to-pharmacy (DTP) or restricted wholesaler schemes. The chart includes discounts and surcharges
• A list of the medicines currently subject to supply problems
• A document setting out the legal, regulatory and professional rules applicable to medicine shortages and your rights as a pharmacist
• A patient leaflet explaining the background to medicines shortages, in the event you are having difficulty supplying a patient in a timely fashion
• Frequently asked questions about the ability of pharmacies to transfer small quantities of stock to other pharmacies in order to overcome some medicine shortages
• Template letters: one to drug manufacturers about audits of PMRs, another to MPs about policy options, and a third to GPs explaining medicines shortages
• A review of the causes of medicines shortages and proposed solutions.

The toolkit addresses each element of the current malaise €“ delays, costs and damage to reputation. It is part of a two-fold approach which also involves lobbying at national and international level.

The NPA is consulting members about pharmaceutical wholesalers

Positive developments

Serious efforts have been made behind the scenes to improve the situation, and there have been positive developments, albeit these have generally served to mitigate the situation, not resolve it fundamentally (e.g. the Department of Health's statement that manufacturers and wholesalers should supply medicines to pharmacies within 24 hours). 

Meanwhile the NPA is consulting members about pharmaceutical wholesalers, with a view to publishing a set of service standards that all independent pharmacies should reasonably expect from wholesalers. NPA members can get involved in the consultation and download the toolkit from: www.npa.co.uk/independentsvoice.