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| Market
Study on Retail Pharmacies
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 18 August 2004
The Government today announced the
implementation of its package of measures in response to the OFT
market study on retail pharmacies.
The government will proceed with the
proposals as set out in the consultation document of 29 August 2003
(see below), though with some amendments.
The new criteria of competition and choice
in assessing the adequacy of local service provision will be
introduced through secondary legislation as originally proposed.
The exemption for shopping developments over
15,000 square metres however will not include such developments in
town centres. Large shopping developments that are out of centre and
out of town will still be included in the exemption.
Consortia wishing to establish new one stop
primary care centres will similarly be exempted. However, they they
will need to provide a regular and comprehensive range of services
and serve a substantial population.
The announcement clears up any uncertainty
about the government's response to the OFT, both for NHS contract
holders or potential new entrants to the market.
Government aims to introduce these reforms
in tandem with the new contractual framework for community pharmacy
when that is finalised.
 More Information (link to
Department of Health).
 List of shopping
developments over 15,000 square metres (link to Department of
Health).
24 September
2003
Department of Health Press Notice on membership
and first meeting of the Advisory Group on Reform and Modernisation
of the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992.
29 August 2003
The Government today published the
Pharmacy Regulations Consultation Document for the proposals
announced on the 17 July 2003. The closing date for comments was 21
November 2003.
Consultation Document
Press Notice
(links to Department of Health documents).
17 July 2003
The Government today responded to
the Office
of Fair Trading (OFT) report on pharmacy entry controls in a written statement to
the House of Commons, announcing a new package of measures to raise
the quality of services offered by pharmacists and boost local
access.
Pharmacy
announcement (3 pages).
DTI Press Notice.
Links to Department of Health
documents.
Press Notice.
A Vision for Pharmacy.
Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework.
Control of Entry Regulations and Retail. Pharmacy Services in the UK
- Response to the Health Select Committee.
30 June 2003
Gerry Sutcliffe Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State for Competition and Consumers issues today
made a progress report on the Government’s response to the Office
of Fair Trading report into community pharmacies.
Responding to a written
parliamentary question Gerry Sutcliffe said that in relation to
England the Government is still on track to announce as planned a balanced package of proposals, which will promote
change to open up the market and improve quality and access without
diminishing the crucial role that pharmacies play, especially in
poorer and rural areas.
He said that there has been
continued consideration of the OFT recommendation across Government
departments and that decisions on the package of measures are being
made collectively.
He made clear that the Government
has received views from numerous stakeholders and members of the
public and that they are being taken into account in the
deliberations. He also noted that there would be at least 12 weeks
consultation on any regulatory changes.
26 March 2003
The Government announced today that
it would come forward with proposals in response to the OFT's study
on retail pharmacies before the summer recess and will publish a
progress report at the end of June.
DTI Press Notice.
Introduction
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
has released a report suggesting that removing restrictions on entry
to the community pharmacy market would give consumers greater
choice, benefits from greater competition and better access to
pharmacy services. Government will now consider the
report and its recommendations and will publish a response.
Background
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
released on Friday 17 January 2003 to the Secretaries of State for
Health and Trade and Industry, and health ministers in Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales, a report into the UK market for retail
pharmacy services.
This
study is the third market investigation to be published by the OFT's
Markets and Policy Initiatives Division and the first which has
focused on Government regulations
DTI has a general interest in OFT's
market studies and co-ordinates Government responses where those
studies make regulatory recommendations.
The policy is a matter for
health departments. DTI will be working closely with health
departments and other Government departments to make sure that the
government's response to the report takes account not only of
competition and consumer interests but wider public policy
objectives.
Stakeholders in England, N.
Ireland, Scotland and Wales who wish to comment on the OFT's
findings, should contact the appropriate health department. These
contact details may be found in the DTI press notice on this issue.
Market Report on Pharmacies (OFT web site).
DTI Press Notice.
Market
Study information page
Contacts
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