PHARMACISTS ENDANGER PATIENTS IN PURSUANCE OF PROFIT

NPSA warns on generics swaps

Pharmacists are putting patients at risk in pursuit of purchase profits on many generic drugs, the National Patient Safety Agency has warned.

Supplying different brands of generics each month to save on cost can cause unnecessary complications in compliance, said David Cousins, the NPSA's head of safe medication practice. "Pharmacists claim to be the patients' advocate. But in this case price is all," he said.

(But, they're shopkeepers, after all - Ed)

(26/6/06)