APPENDIX 11
Further supplementary memorandum by ASDA
Stores Ltd (PS 13B)
OFT REPORT INTO
REMOVAL OF
ENTRY TO
RETAIL PHARMACY
Further to the Health Select Committee hearing
on 3 April, when ASDA and others gave evidence, it's come to my
attention that a letter from PSNC to Labour Ministers misrepresenting
the position of ASDA is now gaining credence.
The PSNC letter states, ". . . On 3 April,
the Health Select Committee looked at this issue. In the course
of the session both the OFT and the representative of ASDA, the
leading proponent of deregulation, conceded the need for planning
of services, recognising that deregulation could not be relied
on to provide services where they are needed."
This is not the ASDA position. Our superintendent
pharmacist, when giving evidence had said, "let the market
find its level than allow the PCTs to fill in the gaps".
In effect, this would be to ask PCTs to identify where ESPS is
needed. It would be an unnecessary waste of PCT resource to ask
them to plan the whole market. Incidentally, we did revisit this
in our supplementary memorandum since there was protracted debate
around this issue during the hearing.
I'd be grateful if you would hold this statement
on record and ensure that your committee at least is clear about
our views on this issue.
If your committee would find it of help to visit
an ASDA store with a pharmacy at a convenient time and location,
I'd be glad to arrange this.
Meanwhile, I look forward to learning whether
you will be preparing a report in due course.
23 May 2003
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