Dispensing - Control of Entry 07

Ministers announce review of contractual arrangements

Health minister Andy Burnham has announced yet further consultations on the 'control of entry' regulations in the Department of Health's review of the impact the 2005 reforms have had on pharmacy services in England published today.

The review found that "the measures have achieved the goal of opening up the market, with more than twice as many pharmacies opening in 2005/06 than in any year since 1992", says the Department. Nationally, the report also found that 99 per cent of people could get to a pharmacy by car, walking or public transport within 20 minutes, including those in deprived areas.

The Department says the report shows that while "the approach taken was the right way to proceed, the question of whether the system remains a suitable vehicle to enable PCTs to meet their new roles and responsibilities for commissioning a patient-led NHS is open to further debate".

Health Minister Andy Burnham said: "Concerns about securing adequate access to services including in more deprived and rural areas remain and PCTs have insufficient influence to exercise adequate control over where services are provided to meet greatest needs.

While he does not propose any major changes to the current reformed regime, he has concluded that "the time is right to consider how we can best shift the focus away from a system that is largely a legacy of the last century, to more modern and reformed contractual arrangements." Anne Galbraith, who also chaired an Advisory Group in 2003 that examined the introduction of the control of entry reforms, will chair the review.

The terms of reference for the review are to examine:
1. current contractual arrangements for the provision of NHS pharmaceutical services in England, taking account of the existing "control of entry" system and review of progress, competition and consumer choice concerns and the principles of better regulation;

* consider the extent to which these arrangements reflect wider developments in health service commissioning and contribute to the aims of the White Paper Our Health, Our Care, Our Say; in particular, securing high quality services which offer greater access and choice, supporting independence, well-being and improving health and providing effective help to those with high levels of need;

* inform formal consultation on how best these arrangements should be developed or reformed in order to maximise this contribution and ensure value for money for the NHS and the broader community;

A report will be completed by March 2007 and the Department will then consider formal consultation on proposals for necessary changes.

(26/1/07)