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Numark stands up for pharmacy contract

Royal Pharmaceutical Society proposals for wholesale reform of the pharmacy contract "play fast and loose with a system that has stood the test of time" and could destabilise and undermine current service provision, Numark was warned.

In its response to the Society's consultation document on improving integration between pharmacy and general practice, Numark agreed that more needed to be done to improve integration, but the suggestion that pharmacy and GP contracts acted as a barrier to change was incorrect. "Nothing could be further from the truth," said chief executive John D'Arcy. Fundamental recent shifts in all four UK pharmacy contracts had been driven by a focus on improving patients' understanding of and adherence to prescribed medicines, said Mr D'Arcy. This had led to service developments such as MURs, NMS and CMS.

The safe and appropriate supply of medicines was at the core of the pharmacy contract, but the RPS proposals seek to marginalise this role, said Mr D'Arcy. "In reality the supply of medicines is crucial for pharmacy role development because it creates the nexus between pharmacist and patient, thereby creating the opportunity for intervention."

John D'Arcy

More needed to be done to improve collaboration between GPs and pharmacists, but the proposed "binding" of the two contracts into a new "population health framework" risked damaging existing services. While not perfect, the system had worked well for many years, ensuring that patients gain access to the medicines they need in a safe and timely manner, as well as a wide range of pharmacy services.

Pharmacy contractors made an investment in the NHS and their existing contracts provided stability and surety for investors. "Wholesale reform of contracts will sweep away this confidence and will, through the law of unintended consequences, destabilise the pharmacy network and erode much needed service provision to local communities. Clearly this is the last thing the NHS wants or needs."