Pfizer plans to send independent auditors to pharmacies that have made “highly irregular or unusual” orders for its medicines.

 The pharma giant said this was not an effort to block parallel exporting of its products, but it had acted to safeguard the availability of medicines to UK patients.

Under Pfizer plans, drug orders could be compared with dispensing data from pharmacy IT systems to flag up rogue buying, C+D understands. Businesses may be challenged by phone and letter before being offered a visit by an independent auditor, the company said.

 A Pfizer spokesperson told C+D: “We have identified highly irregular or unusual orders that may compromise our ability to ensure continued availability to all UK patients.”

 He added: “We strive to manage this and in a small number of cases this may involve offering the use of an independent auditor.”

 The clampdown follows heightened fears over UK medicine stock levels this winter. Industry insiders have warned of shortages as the falling value of the pound against the euro fuels a rise in drug exports to the EU for resale.

 Around 2 per cent of UK pharmacies could come under scrutiny from Pfizer.

The company holds ordering data as a result of its controversial direct to pharmacy deal launched in September 2006.

However, question marks remain over the ownership rights of dispensing data, according to system suppliers contacted by C+D.

PSNC said it was “not sure” whether Pfizer could claim rights to individual pharmacy records.

The contract negotiator said it was concerned that patient confidentiality could be jeopardised under Pfizer’s scheme.

But Pfizer stressed that auditors will not see any patient details that may breach patient confidentiality.

31/1/09)