GPs have rejected pharmacists' growing concerns about prescription directing, claiming it is not a widespread problem.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it had not seen "substantial, statistical evidence" that there was an increased problem in prescriptions being directed to specific pharmacies, despite heightened concerns among pharmacists and LPCs. 

A BMA spokesperson said that there was also no evidence that General Medical Council (GMC) guidelines were being breached "in a widespread fashion". GMC guidance on commercial interests, published in March, emphasises the importance of patient choice and warns against directing prescriptions.

The BMA said it had not seen "substantial, statistical evidence" that the problem of prescriptions being directed to specific pharmacies was getting worse	More on prescription directing Pharmacy raises alarm with GPs and DH over       prescription directing Manchester residents rally round local pharmacies       against GP threat Pharmacy2U clashes with GPs and pharmacists       over advertising MORE NEWS
	C+D reported last week that PSNC and Pharmacy Voice met with the BMA in August and the Department of Health (DH) in June following reports of prescriptions being directed, including claims that patients were receiving promotional material, leading them to believe that they had no choice of pharmacy and GPs were promoting a particular pharmacy.

PSNC told C+D that it was calling for an overhaul of NHS regulations to curb the directing of prescriptions. However, although the BMA agreed that guidelines to ensure "proper prescription practice" should be followed "stringently", it did not believe a change to the GP contract was required, the spokesperson said.

The BMA said it was, however, drawing up joint guidance for LPCs and local medical committees to address local cases where there were concerns about the relationships between pharmacies and GPs.   

The Department of Health said this week that patients should be free to collect their prescriptions from wherever they choose and said discussions with PSNC and Pharmacy Voice would continue.