Pharmacy Voice has created a specific task and finish group to tackle prescription direction, which met for the first time last week.

Pharmacy Voice has undertaken a number of activities over the past few years to highlight prescription direction, including:

• Exposing the lack of NHS understanding of conflicts of interest through a series of FOI requests
• Developing a dossier of prescription direction evidence
• Working with the PSNC and BMA to develop a joint statement
• Securing the establishment of an NHS England working group tasked with, in the first instance, tackling prescription direction by voluntary means, with regulatory activities to follow if this fails.

Gareth Jones, Pharmacy Voice lead for Prescription Direction commented: "Prescription direction is an unprofessional activity which undermines fair competition. There are serious concerns that unless tackled soon it will permanently damage the network and indeed, change pharmacy supply forever. Prescription direction is a top priority issue for Pharmacy Voice."