Pharmacy Voice has expressed “serious concerns” about the quality and accuracy of current PNAs and is calling on the Department of Health to address these as a matter of urgency.
In its response to the Department of Health’s consultation on market entry, Pharmacy Voice states that it is sensible to judge applications against identified need, providing that system allows for competition and innovation whilst giving existing contractors sufficient confidence to invest in their premises, staff and services.
Rob Darracott, Chief Executive of Pharmacy Voice,said:
“Robust pharmaceutical needs assessment are an appropriate basis for market entry - robust being the operative word. Unfortunately, PNAs published by Primary Care Trusts in the past 18 months have been, in many cases, substandard and defensive. We would like to see these concerns addressed as a matter of urgency, to underpin implementation of the new regulations.
“As regards market exit, it is an important principle that sanctions for poor quality provision are applied consistently and proportionately.”
“The Department of Health must ensure there are clear time lines for the transition to new arrangements to ensure that public and patients benefit from improved pharmaceutical care without unnecessary delay”.
Pharmacy Voice also calls in its submission for the distance selling exception to be scrapped. Instead, the NHS Commissioning Board could in future decide on applications for distance selling pharmacies, based on need.