Branded generics needs to be banned. What makes me mad is that it's the pharmacists who have switched to pcns that have enforced this kind of prescribing to save the NHS money, but to kill off the community pharmacies they have deserted.
Completely agree with you as an owner, its ludicrous that a high volume dispensing pharmacy is reimbursed the same as a low volume site, that probably compensates with OTC sales.
I think the point medicines management teams and PCN pharmacists forget is that the mechanism for controlling profit for pharmacies is the drug tariff; by using branded generics "to save money" actually probably costs the NHS more in the long run and negatively affects the reimbursement and profit of pharmacies!
I read somewhere that the plan (by the NHS) was to close around 3000 pharmacies nationally. But they're happily handing out distance selling contracts; and thus will not achieve this target. But they will kill off the high street pharmacies, and then wonder why patients cannot access bricks and mortar pharmacy services, like pharmacy first, etc.
There should also be a level playing field so that pharmacy, optometry and dentistry have their operating costs covered just like our GP colleagues (gas, electricity, water, telephone and rent or mortgage). Paid half days every month to close for Practice Learning Time (PLT) so that we can invest in keeping our workforce updated with training.
Talking of GP colleagues. They also have an NHS pension, even though they are contractors. Like WHAT?
What I love is when branded generics go out of stock, then they say "try another pharmacy". Idiots.
As both a pharmacist, and a patient, everytime my prescription renews and I get switched back to a branded generic that is OOS I seethe... it's not good for patients nor pharmacies. I gather it's a System issue too in that the branded generic sits at the top of the prescribing list therefore of course most GPs will select the first option!
All remote pharmacies pass the buck onto to patient to sort any supply issues with GP. I swore I would never use remote pharmacy until local brick and mortar stopped their Saturday hours meaning I couldn't pick up my script anymore. It wasn't long ago I needed a H.Pylori breath kit that was on a constant OOS until I contacted the supplier directly and sent an email to the company in question to say 'order direct from manufacturer'. Lo and behold issue sorted within 3 days I finally had my kit.
We need local pharmacies with proper reimbursement and staffing alongside a joined up primary care system that respects pharmacy as an equal colleague and not an antagonist.
We can’t even get surgeries to stop prescribing branded generics I think we have no hope unfortunately! (FYI I totally agree with you)
Branded generics needs to be banned. What makes me mad is that it's the pharmacists who have switched to pcns that have enforced this kind of prescribing to save the NHS money, but to kill off the community pharmacies they have deserted.
Completely agree with you as an owner, its ludicrous that a high volume dispensing pharmacy is reimbursed the same as a low volume site, that probably compensates with OTC sales. I think the point medicines management teams and PCN pharmacists forget is that the mechanism for controlling profit for pharmacies is the drug tariff; by using branded generics "to save money" actually probably costs the NHS more in the long run and negatively affects the reimbursement and profit of pharmacies! I read somewhere that the plan (by the NHS) was to close around 3000 pharmacies nationally. But they're happily handing out distance selling contracts; and thus will not achieve this target. But they will kill off the high street pharmacies, and then wonder why patients cannot access bricks and mortar pharmacy services, like pharmacy first, etc. There should also be a level playing field so that pharmacy, optometry and dentistry have their operating costs covered just like our GP colleagues (gas, electricity, water, telephone and rent or mortgage). Paid half days every month to close for Practice Learning Time (PLT) so that we can invest in keeping our workforce updated with training.
Talking of GP colleagues. They also have an NHS pension, even though they are contractors. Like WHAT? What I love is when branded generics go out of stock, then they say "try another pharmacy". Idiots.
As both a pharmacist, and a patient, everytime my prescription renews and I get switched back to a branded generic that is OOS I seethe... it's not good for patients nor pharmacies. I gather it's a System issue too in that the branded generic sits at the top of the prescribing list therefore of course most GPs will select the first option! All remote pharmacies pass the buck onto to patient to sort any supply issues with GP. I swore I would never use remote pharmacy until local brick and mortar stopped their Saturday hours meaning I couldn't pick up my script anymore. It wasn't long ago I needed a H.Pylori breath kit that was on a constant OOS until I contacted the supplier directly and sent an email to the company in question to say 'order direct from manufacturer'. Lo and behold issue sorted within 3 days I finally had my kit. We need local pharmacies with proper reimbursement and staffing alongside a joined up primary care system that respects pharmacy as an equal colleague and not an antagonist.