Under EU anticounterfeiting legislation the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD), every pharmacy in the UK will be required to scan barcodes on medicines packs and check their anti-tampering devices at the point of dispensing from February 9, 2019.

But while “very significant capital and operational costs are involved” in installing new scanners and software, “the largest ongoing costs seem to have been overlooked in many circles”, Rowlands told C+D last week (August 23).

“This is the cost associated with scanning and inspecting the [anti-tampering devices] for every unit of [prescription] stock that leaves a pharmacy and also the time and cost associated with dealing with ‘adverse’ scan results,” it said.

The multiple – which has more than 500 branches across the UK – admitted “there is a lot to do” to meet the February 9 deadline and hinted that it may not have systems up and running across every pharmacy by this date.

“[We] will make best endeavours to have a compliant system in place in as many branches as possible, given the scale and complexity of what is involved,” it said.

“Significant period of adjustment”

As well as the ongoing costs of maintaining and updating the equipment and software once implemented, Rowlands stressed “there will be a significant period of adjustment and bed-in” while the “practical effects [of the FMD] are understood in the ‘real world’ environment”.

The multiple is currently “working with its IT suppliers and operational teams to develop compliant software and practical efficient procedures”.

“[We] hope that the costs are fully considered in upcoming reimbursement negotiations with the Department of Health and Social Care and the devolved governments,” Rowlands added.

Boots and Well have both said they are continuing to work towards FMD implementation, while Lloydspharmacy and Day Lewis are both preparing to trial barcode scanners in certain branches.

Last week, Weldricks told C+D it will trial scanners in two of its pharmacies next month.