EXCLUSIVE

Department of Health (DH) proposals to allow independents to legally operate a hub-and-spoke dispensing model are a “fantastic opportunity”, according to the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA).

Handing over dispensing duties to central hubs could bring pharmacists out of the dispensary and allow them to deliver more services, PDA chairman Mark Koziol told C+D last week (October 8).

The DH told C+D last month that it is “looking into” relaxing the law prohibiting companies from operating the model unless they own both the dispensing hub and the pharmacy. This would allow all pharmacies – rather than “just the large multiples” – to use it, the DH said.

Mr Koziol said the PDA is “delighted” that the DH is considering amending the law, because it would give independents “parity” with multiples. Independents could potentially form consortiums to operate central hubs collectively, he explained.
 

"Fundamental redesign" of contract necessary

For the model to work, the community pharmacy contract must be “fundamentally redesigned”, with separate contracts created for dispensing and delivering services, Mr Koziol said. This would allow pharmacists who move their dispensing function to a central hub to remain profitable, he said.

The PDA made the case for dual contracts last year, and Mr Koziol said last week that a new service-based contract should include a fee for checking prescriptions delivered from a dispensing hub.

“Those struggling with the current [funding] model could take out a contract purely for services, and do really well for themselves and patients,” he said.

Hub-and-spoke dispensing would be “highly beneficial” for the public and create “much more professionally fulfilling roles” for pharmacists, Mr Koziol told C+D. If pharmacists spent less time dispensing, the chance of local commissioners funding them to deliver clinical services would be “much greater”, he said.

Introducing central hubs with robotic dispensing would also improve patient safety, Mr Koziol added. “It is going to be a more accurate dispensing situation than having lots of humans who are constantly being disturbed by phone calls and events in the pharmacy,” he added.

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