NPA makes Covid-19 PCR tests available for pharmacies with Medicspot tie-up

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has partnered with healthcare company Medicspot to enable its pharmacy members to sell Covid-19 PCR test kits.

Following new Public Health England guidance issued last month, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has removed its blanket prohibition on Covid testing in pharmacies and the sale of Covid test kits by pharmacies.

Pharmacies selling Covid-19 PCR test kits in England are now required to self-declare to the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) to become a private Covid-19 testing provider.

The new guidelines clarify the minimum standards pharmacies are expected to meet when selling Covid tests to organisations or members of the public.

Dr Zubair Ahmed, CEO of Medicspot, said: “There had been a lot of confusion in community pharmacy on what pharmacies were and were not allowed to do. This clarification will be a bonus for many pharmacies who wish to provide private Covid-19 testing services for their communities.”

The list of requirements needed for DHSC approval includes the need for a designated clinical or medical director, a rigid procedure for reporting test results and clear governance and lines of accountability.

“In line with these guidelines, Medicspot provides an end-to-end service to manage the bulk of these requirements; giving pharmacies the ability to sell Covid-19 PCR test kits whilst meeting their governance obligations,” NPA said in a release.

Medicspot has developed a support tool to help NPA pharmacies that sell their testing kits to self-declare with the DHSC.

Mark Lyonette, NPA chief executive, said: “We are pleased that there is now greater clarity on Covid testing.

“This partnership with Medicspot will enable NPA members to fulfil the goal of providing PCR Covid-19 testing services to their customers whilst allowing community pharmacies to benefit from a reliable service, generating additional revenue.”