Commons Committee rejects Government pharmacy proposals

18.06.03

A boost for local campaigners

Local Liberal Democrat MP Edward Davey, commenting on a new report published today by the Health Select Committee on the deregulation of the pharmacy sector, claimed it was a "huge boost" to the local campaign to save community pharmacies.

The Committee's conclusions support what community pharmacists have been saying all along - deregulation is simply not a viable option. The report claims that the proposals could leave some of the most vulnerable members of society without local pharmacy provision and warns the Government that the social impact of this could be grave.

Edward Davey commented:

" The Government must confirm once and for all that it will not accept the OFT's recommendations. The evidence is there, and it shows definitively that deregulation is of no benefit to anyone - the customer, the community pharmacist or the NHS.

"Healthcare provision must not be allowed to suffer at the hands of supermarket competition.

"This whole issue boils down to access. Pharmacists are frontline healthcare professionals who provide invaluable help, information and support. This level of expertise must be maintained in each community.

"At a time when the Government is paying lip service to promoting the skills of pharmacists, the DTI must reject the OFT's recommendations.

View the report : "The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK"