PHARMACISTS' REVIEW PANEL

EDM number 150 in 1993-94, proposed by Eddie Loyden on 01/12/1993.

That this House congratulates the Pharmacists' Review Panel on providing helpful advice and opinion on many occasions over a long period to both the Department of Health and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee during their annual negotiations over the remuneration of National Health Service community pharmacy contractors; understands that both parties have exercised their right to refer matters to the Panel either jointly or unilaterally, at various times over the years and both have found the Panel's involvement to be useful in reaching agreement; recognises that although it has no statutory authority or power to act as arbitrator, the Pharmacists' Review Panel is the only independent expert body to which either party involved in these remuneration negotiations may turn for advice; notes that the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has recently referred the subject of community pharmacists' working capital to the Panel and that the Panel has accepted the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee's reference; further notes, with concern, that subsequently Ministers have informed the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee that they now intend to disband the Panel; earnestly hopes that this intention does not stem from the possibility that the Panel may support the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee's case or choose to be critical of the way in which the Department of Health has imposed a remuneration package on National Health Service community pharmacists this year; and urges the Secretary of State for Health to retain the Pharmacists Review Panel so that it may continue to function as an impartial and independent source of advice and assistance on this important National Health Service matter.

This motion has been signed by a total of 43 MPs.