Pharmacists have reacted angrily to the suggestion by manufacturers that the solution to stock shortages lies in the separation of pharmacies' wholesaling and dispensing activities.

The idea that shortages were caused by activity at one end of the supply chain was "far too narrow", said Pharmacy Voice, adding that a solution would need to "address behaviours right up and down the supply chain".

Earlier this week, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) called for the separation of wholesaling and dispensing activities, a move it said would ensure pharmacists put patients before business. Stephen Whitehead, chief executive of the ABPI, told an oral evidence session of the all-party pharmacy group (APPG) inquiry into medicines shortages on Tuesday (January 24) that the MHRA should be more robust in giving licences to wholesalers. He went on to say that, while the majority of pharmacists understood the need for quotas, a small minority would "take whatever steps necessary" to get around them.

"Both sides are saying the other side is to blame. Why not sit down together to sort things out? At the end of the day the only real losers are going to be the patients." Bob Jones, relief pharmacist. "Hasn't Big Pharma read the EU rules on free movement of goods and services." - John Schofield, locum pharmacist.

PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe said the ABPI proposals would need to be considered as part of a broader conversation on solutions to the shortages issue. She also said PSNC would want to "understand what obligations would be required from manufacturers in return for the restrictions they propose on pharmacies".

Graham Phillips of Manor Pharmacy (Wheathampstead) Ltd, Hertfordshire, was less conciliatory, calling the ABPI's proposal "utter hypocrisy." "They [the big pharmaceutical companies] want all the benefits of free trade but none of the pitfalls," he said. "If we were paid like GPs on a fair return pharmacists would not be exporting."

What do you think the solution is? Comment below or email us at [email protected] You can also find C+D on TwitterLinkedIn and Facebook