![]() Most pharmacists will have been asked at some time or another by a patient to have the brand instead of the generic - perhaps the patient will say something like "I don't want those cheap medicines - can I have the brand??" There might be some discussion about payment of taxes, or that only the brand will work, or the consultant said I must have the brand etc... The other day, however a patient said to me "Ok then, I'll pay the difference" - but this puts us in a very strange place indeed...I refused, but let's think about it a bit more...
Having investigated this with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, I obtained the following clarification..
. "If you were to supply a branded product, and to charge the differential, this could be interpreted as deviating from the charge set within legislation and could be problematic if regulatory/enforcing bodies become involved. This could be compounded by the grouping of the patient if classified as a vulnerable adult. Additionally there was some generic private care / NHS patients guidance which was published in 2009 following consultation and widespread discussion. This is available on the link below http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_096576.pdf One of the executive key points was that the “NHS should never subsidise private care” " So the bottom line is that to take money from patients to give the brand is frowned on and might be thought of as a breach of your terms of service!
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David CarterChairman of Gateshead & South Tyneside LPC gives you his thoughts of the day Archives
July 2015
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