Alliance Unichem welcomes opposition to pharmacy deregulation
Scotland and Wales vote against OFT call for full deregulation
April 1 2003
Pharmacy operator Alliance UniChem has stepped into the political controversy raging over proposed changes to regulations governing the issuing of new UK pharmacy contracts.
The wholesaler and retailer welcomed the decision by both the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly to oppose the OFT’s recommendation for complete liberalisation of pharmacies.
The decision by the two national assemblies comes as the UK cabinet is said to split over the proposals, with some ministers fearing political fallout if rural pharmacies close.
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewitt, who will announce a decision on the report by the summer, has indicated uncertainty at the highest levels. She said: “Pharmacists should be able to fulfil not only their present valued and trusted role but the wider role that is envisaged for them in the NHS plan. Simply de-regulating the market will not do that, so we need a balanced package of measures and that is precisely what we will draw up.”
Chancellor Gordon Brown is said to be one of the biggest supporters of pharmacy deregulation in the Cabinet.
Alliance UniChem is one of the UK’s largest retail pharmacy operations with 782 Moss outlets and more than 7,250 independent pharmacy customers. The company said it believes communities are better served by pharmacies under the current system of regulation. Moss has 113 pharmacies in Scotland and 15 in Wales.
Geoff Cooper, deputy chief executive of Alliance UniChem, said: “As we anticipated the Government recognises the crucial role that pharmacies play in the local community, providing prescription medicines, advice and consultation, and in our pharmacy model, healthcare services such as well-being clinics, blood pressure monitoring and diabetes counselling.
“We believe that the decision by Scotland and Wales is the right approach to safeguard the nations’ community pharmacy service. Alliance UniChem is committed to community pharmacy. We actively support it both through the wide range of services offered to our wholesale pharmacy customers and through our active participation as the owners of a community pharmacy chain. Our typical customer is a patient requiring immediate fulfilment of a prescription or with a regular repeat prescription, seeking trusted advice and guidance.
“We have comprehensive plans to deal with any increased competition that may be finally implemented and remain confident that our focussed retail community pharmacy chain can continue its strong growth and financial performance. When the government decides on its course of action we will swiftly resume the expansion of our UK retail pharmacy chain through acquisition, and if regulation permits, through the opening of new pharmacies ourselves.”
