Market Study - Pharmacies
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) published a report into the UK market for retail pharmacy services on 17 January 2003. The report suggested that removing restrictions on entry to the community pharmacy market would give consumers greater choice, benefits from greater competition and better access to pharmacy services. Government will now consider the report and its recommendations and will publish a response.
On 30 June 2003, Gerry Sutcliffe, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Competition and Consumers, issued an interim response and the Government responded fully on 17 July 2003 in a written statement to the House of Commons. This statement announced a new package of measures to raise the quality of services offered by pharmacists and boost local access.
On 18 August 2004, the Government announced the implementation of the package of measures outlined in their response.
• This would introduce a new criteria of competition and choice in assessing the adequacy of local service provision will be introduced through secondary legislation as originally proposed.
• Shopping developments over 15,000 square metres (excluding developments in town centres) would be exempted from the Control of Entry regulations
• Consortia wishing to establish new one stop primary care centres will similarly be exempted. However, they they will need to provide a regular and comprehensive range of services and serve a substantial population.
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