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1/30/2012
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Government should freeze 100-hour pharmacy applications, says Numark
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Mimi Lau, Numark's director of pharmacy services.
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The government should put a freeze on all 100-hour pharmacy applications while the Department of Health considers its recommendations on market entry, the pharmacy chain Numark has said.
Many pharmacists and pharmacy bodies are concerned by the spate of 100-hour applications lodged as the administration considers its options on the matter, and have pushed for the removal of the 100-hour pharmacy exemption.
The Independent Pharmacy Federation recently voiced its opposition to the applications, saying there should be no more 100-hour pharmacies from April this year, while Pharmacy Voice has urged ministers to introduce more robust Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments (PNAs). Numark threw its weight behind the opposition.
“We are aware that there has been a rush of new applications for 100-hour pharmacies during this consultation period. This has put strain on existing contractors as well as PCT resource,” said Mimi Lau, Numark's director of pharmacy services.
“We have requested that the Department considers seriously an interim measure to counter act these applications whilst it considers its recommendations.”
On the issue of PNAs, Lau said: “The fact that there is no definition of a PNA makes it difficult for both PCTs and contractors. They vary considerably across PCTs and there have been very few situations where PNAs have identified services which are required over and above what has already been commissioned.
“We don’t have confidence in the capacity and capability of PCTs to administer PNAs given the reforms that are taking place in the NHS and we have asked that there is sufficient guidance to support them in implementing the new system until the NHS Commissioning Boards come into being.”
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