COMMUNITY PHARMACIES AND THE OFT REPORT

Motion Text

That this House is concerned that there is a conflict of policy between the Office of Fair Trading, which is proposing to deregulate pharmaceutical prescriptions, allow such sales in supermarkets and thus destabilise local pharmacies with an estimated closure of small businesses of 50 per cent, and the Department of Health which is proposing a greater role for local pharmacies in local health care support; and urges the two departments to work more closely together, and to recognise pharmacists as health professionals and part of the structure of primary care which exists within the health sector.