Wholesaler body: Pharmacies not at risk of exceeding credit limit
Most pharmacies should not be at risk of being unable to dispense medicines after reaching their credit limit with wholesalers, according to the head of a wholesaler body.
The recent deluge of scripts, up to triple the usual volume, has pushed some pharmacies to breaking point during COVID-19. Some have had to buy so much medicine to meet demand that they have reached the credit limit on their wholesaler account, potentially imperilling their ability to purchase drugs.
But Martin Sawer, executive director of the Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA), says that only a “small number” of pharmacies might have challenges with their credit limit with his members.
“I have been told that there is a lot of flexibility being allowed on those caps. Wholesalers have put on extra customer service teams to try and deal with all those regular customers who have that issue,” Mr Sawer told C+D last Friday (May 1).
“If there are any issues with with any of my members, then please do pass them on.” HDA members include AAH, Alliance Healthcare, Lexon and Phoenix.
Listen to the podcast to hear about:
- Demand from community pharmacy for medicines returning to normal
- How contractors can deal with medicines price hikes
- The ups and downs wholesalers experienced during COVID-19, resulting in them being offered army support
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Please note, the sound quality of this podcast may be affected as it has been recorded remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak
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