Payments To Community Pharmacists

EDM number 1894 in 1992-93, proposed by Dawn Primarolo on 29/04/1993.

That this House is appalled that the Government has proposed taking money away from smaller pharmacists and redistributing the money saved to the large chain pharmacies; notes that the suggestion that only those dispensing over 2000 NHS prescriptions per calendar month will receive proper and full remuneration for the service provided to the community and does not agree that pharmacies prescribing less per month are not making a demonstrable contribution to the NHS as stated by the Government; believes that the settlement put forward by the Government will result in the closure of nearly 25 per cent. of community pharmacies, many in rural areas, with some counties such as Northumberland losing nearly 50 per cent. of pharmacies; further believes that the Government's proposals are anti-competitive and will undermine the provision of community pharmacies; and therefore calls on the Government to withdraw its present offer to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and to negotiate an offer that protects the interests of patients in preserving community pharmacists.

This motion has been signed by a total of 103 MPs.