Manufacturers have called for the legal separation of pharmacies' wholesaling and dispensing activities to ensure patients "get priority" when medicines are in short supply.

Separating the activities would ensure pharmacists put patients before business, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) told C+D.

The ABPI stressed that manufacturers were already oversupplying medicines to the UK market by between 15 and 30 per cent. It added that manufacturers had already put in place "emergency supply routes" and "significant extra resources" to tackle stock shortages.

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	The ABPI argued that tougher regulation was needed to address the issues in the supply chain. "In the long term, the level of regulatory oversight and inspection of the trade in medicines needs to be re-examined," it said.

Under current regulations, pharmacies and businesses can apply for wholesaler dealer licenses, which enable them to export medicines. There are currently 1800 wholesaler licences in the UK.

Last week, the MHRA revealed that pharmacists with "unusual purchasing patterns" could face investigation over their exporting businesses.

The association is expected to put its views to the first oral evidence session of all-party pharmacy group inquiry into medicines shortages, which will be held at the House of Commons today (January 24).

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