Ewan Davis wrote:
> I would be interested in list members view of a recently announced
> initiative to link GPs and pharmacies. Is this initiative something that
> GPs will support? Should GP system suppliers be working to provide an
> interface.
> Script Manager hardware and software is provided free to GPs.
But my mum always said that theres no such thing as a free lunch. Who is
paying for this? Whos behind PRS?
> Any purchase of OTC medicines in any "Health Plus" Pharmacy are also
> recorded in the PRS database. This allows interaction and other safety
> checks against all items prescribed in any "Health Plus" pharmacy.
> Subject to patient consent details of any OTC drugs purchased are
> passed back to the GP.
I suppose in certain circumstances this could be useful, but with
information overload sometimes, its nice to be able to see the wood for
the trees. What we would need as prescribers is highlighting of the
potential OTC and prescribed drug interactions which PRS are providing to
the pharmacy.
> The system can optionally prompt the pharmacist to provided compliance
> counselling tailored to the needs of the specific patient with the
> potential for GP input into the counselling message. It is intended
>that the pharmacist will receive an additional fee for this service.
>From whom?
>For high value branded medicines this fee would be paid by the manufacturer.
Fair enough. Will this push the price up or out of current profits before
the patent ends? Perhaps to mitigate against the increasing influence of
generics? Will they pay me for not using generics too?
>It is envisaged that for some other products Health Authorities might
>pay this fee where it could be demonstrated that improved compliance
>would reduce costs elsewhere in the system.
Are you saying that this could be a Trojan horse for Pharmacists, or PRS
whoever is behind them, to take away Chronic Disease Management from the
GPs who have been kind enough to supply them with all their appropriate
repeat prescribing data and a captive group of patients? Is that when GPs
start to pay for the free hardware and software?
Bern
--
Dr Bernard Bedford email [log in to unmask]
Waterside Health Centre tel: 01703 845955
Beaulieu Road
Hythe
Southampton
SO45 5WX
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