Industry encouraged to invest more in pharmacy partnerships
pharmafile | May 27, 2005 | News story | Research and Development |Â Â Â
Pharmaceutical companies should increase their investment in community pharmacists, according to a leading pharmacy spokesperson.
Michael Holden, NHS development manager at the Pharmacy Alliance which represents community pharmacists, says pharma had a great opportunity to invest in and support the new pharmacy contract.
The new contract was introduced in April and rewards pharmacists for the range and quality of services they provide rather than, as before, the volume of medicines they dispense.
Holden said investing in areas of new enhanced services like diabetes screening and concordance monitoring will generate long-term benefits for pharma companies.
Pharmacists have now been identified as an active member of Primary Care services, and thousands of supplementary prescribers make the profession a developing customer group for the industry.
Holden told an industry audience at a recent EyeforPharma conference on outcomes-based sales and marketing that pharma should not expect a direct return on investment (RoI) from work with pharmacists but that it was nevertheless worthwhile.
He said: "You can't pin down an active RoI, and there is some risk involved but companies have an opportunity to support pharmacists clinical needs and skills."
He cited improved care for patients, improved health outcomes, and the enhanced reputation for companies supporting pharmacists as fundamental reasons why the industry should increase its investment
Pharma has been tentative in supporting the new pharmacy contract so far but Holden says there are some good examples of collaborative work.
Roche is working with Local Pharmaceutical Committees (LPCs) to design and developing diabetes screening for PCTs, meanwhile Pfizer is expected to sponsor a Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) management programme for pharmacists in a number of PCTs. Working with the PCTs and the Pharmacy Alliance, Pfizer will provide training, support and funding for pharmacists in a 12-month programme.
Commenting on the collaboration, Holden said: "CHD is an important area to Pfizer so it is important it is seen to support it. Pfizer will have the benefit of its name assigned to the report, acknowledging that it provided a grant towards the programme.
Holden has called on other companies to follow suit, stressing the importance of building the new services into the local PCT strategy, ensuring it establishes links with all the other healthcare providers, like nurses and GPs.
The Pharmacy Alliance is currently undertaking scoping work with Boehringer Ingelheim in the development of a COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) programme as well as a CDHD programme with Bristol Myers-Squibb.
