Wholesaler and pharmacist representatives are working together to create guidance to improve the supply of medicines.

The British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (BAPW) and Pharmacy Voice held a joint board meeting last month to discuss creating a system to make it easier for pharmacists to report medicine shortages to wholesalers and manufacturers, BAPW chief executive Martin Sawer told C+D this week (December 10).

The BAPW also wanted to work with Pharmacy Voice to create best practice guidance for its members on how to deliver medicines to a high standard and keep pharmacists informed of any shortages, he said.

"When a pharmacist can't get a product, it would be great if wholesalers told them why and how long it might be before they can get it," Mr Sawer said.

It would be great if wholesalers could tell pharmacists why a product is out of stock and when they can get get it, says BAPW chief executive Martin Sawer	More on stock shortages C+D calls for urgent action to fix problems in supply chain C+D report: Medicines shortages 2013 Europe-wide data sharing needed to prevent shortages worsening MORE NEWS
	Both groups wanted to dispel the myths that the current medicine supply system was expensive for the NHS or that a wide range of medicines were in short supply when only a small number were affected, Mr Sawer added.

Mr Sawer said the UK's supply chain was "the envy of many other countries" and the BAPW planned to create working groups with pharmacists to understand their concerns with the current system. It also wanted to work with manufacturers to gain a better understanding of how the supply chain worked in practice, he said.

Pharmacy Voice chief executive Rob Darracott said he was "delighted" to be working on the initiatives with the BAPW.

"Pharmacists and distributors have a common cause as partners in the medicines supply chain, working together to ensure patients get the medicines they need safely and efficiently," he said.

In October, the BAPW revamped its ‘gold standard' of medicines distribution guidance, to reflect new EU regulations targeted at weaknesses in the supply chain.The same month, the group told C+D it had revived a communications network with pharmacists used during last year's Olympics to ensure the London flu vaccine service did not face further supply problems.

Read C+D's report on medicines shortages here.