Nearly all rural patients will find it 'difficult' if they lose the facility, says DDA
Patients are opposed to government plans to restrict the right of rural GPs to supply drugs directly to patients. A survey of 6,000 patients by the Dispensing Doctors Association (DDA) found 95% of patients in rural areas who receive medicines directly from their doctor would find it "difficult or inconvenient" if their surgery stopped dispensing.
The DDA was responding to proposals in the Government's Pharmacy White Paper to replace the current market entry system for pharmacists, which is based on the 'necessary or expedient' test, with one based on assessment by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) of local pharmaceutical needs.
Patients who live more than a mile from a chemist can choose to have their medicines dispensed by their GP, arrangements that have been in place for almost a century. However, the Government's proposals would result in patients losing the choice.
The DDA said: "As different PCTs would make different decisions in identical cases, this would further add to the postcode lottery in health service provision, although the presumed intention is to produce an equitable and fair system, the proposed changes will not achieve this aim."
In its response to the paper the Royal College of General Practitioners' rural practice standing group has warned: "The loss of dispensing revenue could make many rural practices non viable in their present form and is likely to result in closure of many rural GP surgeries."
Pharmacists are also opposed. The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, representing pharmacists on NHS matters, told the Government: "We do not support any proposal to modify the market entry test since to do so will jeopardise development of patient care and threaten the Pharmacy White Paper aspirations to make better use of pharmacists' skills and expertise."
The UK's dispensing doctors look after more than 8 million patients, 3.5 million of whom are dispensing patients.
