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News in Brief
Split NHS from DH
Pharmacists continue involvement in drug exports
PSNC meet DH on EPS2
Dr Allan Tennant reports
26th of November 2009
Crisp calls for splitting NHS away from DH
Sir Nigel Crisp has wide experience within the NHS. He has held both permanent secretary of the department and chief executive of the NHS.
In the BMJ he calls for separation of the NHS to reduce political interference. The health department and the NHS: time to separate?
In this personal view he says "We need a department that really is "for" health, and we need ministers who focus on dealing with these issues. We also need an NHS that is able to work, within this wider context, to produce its own strategies and operational polices and manage the successful delivery of high quality healthcare services to every member of the population. These are linked but very different tasks. For a number of years, including my own tenure there, the political emphasis on health services meant that the Department of Health was to all intents and purposes the Department of the NHS."
Sir Nigel's view may be shared by conservatives who want smaller government. Undoubtedly there has been far too much central control and diktat in the last ten years. The Darzi centres in every PCT is a good example. Obviously the late insertion by Primary Care Commissioning of the Dispensing Doctor proposals into the Pharmacy White Paper is another closer to home.
Pharmacists continue involvement in drug exports
Market researcher IMS Health says that currently 14% or 1 in 7 pharmacies is involved in the exporting of pharmaceuticals out of the UK. The previous estimate had been 11%.
IMS Health claims to know who is doing the exporting.
DDA Online recently published Trading Medicines for Human Use: Shortages and Supply Chain Obligations Joint guidance on the supply obligations of dispensing doctors, pharmacists, wholesalers and manufacturers, agreed by all parts of the supply chain.
We are pleased that only a tiny minority of doctors are taking part in exports.
PSNC discuss EPS2 with DH
DDA Online recently published EPS2 Is it happening? DH thinks so; others less certain
Readers may wish to read the following news piece on the PSNC website Update on PSNC discussions with DH on EPS Release 2
Readers will see that developments for EPS2 are moving forward for pharmacy whilst it is not the case for dispensing doctors. Although as we reported above, the positive noises from the DH are not necessarily held by others.