MCS items/exceeded quotas

[imaginegenerous]

Sorry folks, this has probably been covered lots of times already but does anyone hold any hope that there's going to be an improvement in what seems to be the ever increasing numbers of meds classed as either 'MCS' or 'quota exceeded'? It's driving me (and no doubt my patients) completely round the bend. The latest item we've exceeded our quota for is Ventolin nebules and I had a really difficult time trying to get GSK to authorise the wholesaler to release more. We're only ordering what we need for scripts and replacing what we're using I'm just getting so frustrated as it seems to be more and more items affected - is it just me? We can't seem to get Regulan for love nor money even though Procter and Gamble have told me twice that it's been available since the beginning of Feb. And why isn't the DoH stepping in to do something about it? I feel it's affecting my/the company's reputation with the customers and painting us in a bad light when all we're doing is trying to supply the stock that we get scripts for.

Sorry about the rant but I can't see any improvement any time soon.

[lillylemon]

I know how you feel, we have problems with so many items it is ridiculus. I have found as well with exforge especially, if you ring AAH thy say it is MCS so I ring Novartis and get enough to cover Rxs then amazingly, 2 days later we get a load of packs from AAH.

[Mr Pharm S]

Its the same here! This morning I spent 15 minutes phoning for some Aprovel only to be told the Whole saler has some. Another 5 minutes phoning wholesaler to find they dont have and its a case of phoning the Makers. Another 5 minutes phoning makers back who said they'll contact the wholesaler and let me know. 25 minutes wasted and still no stock coming.

[Defblade]

Take the name of the person you're dealing with.

Say "I'm not chasing this any more; I'll be giving your number and name to the patient and you can explain to them why they can't have their tablets."

"You can't do that!"

"Yes I will."

"Hold on, I'll just have a word with my manager......... .......... we can send you those tablets on you next delivery, OK?"

[DispenserJosh]

is it just me? We can't seem to get Regulan for love nor money

God.......Regulan. The problems we have had with those damn sachets, and you cant give Fybogel instead due to a very small difference in the contents. DoH needs to step in on this one it's getting silly. We've had to borrow stock from other pharmacies and send patients elsewhere. We should be able to claim for every script lost because of this...

[SolomonQ]

Pharmacists/pharmacies trying to take too much of the blame on themselves. If you can't get something, you can't get something. Are you feeling bad for the patients or for the lost revenue? If there's a problem with mcs etc best trying to get the drs to change to generic or diff brand. No point holding on to a regulan rx and spending hours chasing stock if dr and patient happy to change to fybogel.

[Pharmanaut]

Pharmacists/pharmacies trying to take too much of the blame on themselves. If you can't get something, you can't get something. Are you feeling bad for the patients or for the lost revenue? If there's a problem with mcs etc best trying to get the drs to change to generic or diff brand. No point holding on to a regulan rx and spending hours chasing stock if dr and patient happy to change to fybogel.

We are unhappy because we can't do our job properly because of this fiasco.
There doesn't seem to be a whimper in the popular press about this; unlike the situation if the BMA is not happy about something.
NPA/RPSGB : get your publicity machine into gear and embarass the manufacturers into action.

[SolomonQ]

My job doesn't involve stressing about things being mcs.there's nothing I can do so whata the point? Hopefully not all pharmacists would think that pharmacy is just about supplying people with their medicines.

[bobbin]

Pharmacists/pharmacies trying to take too much of the blame on themselves. If you can't get something, you can't get something. Are you feeling bad for the patients or for the lost revenue? If there's a problem with mcs etc best trying to get the drs to change to generic or diff brand. No point holding on to a regulan rx and spending hours chasing stock if dr and patient happy to change to fybogel.

Exactly. Regulan is neither unique nor important. All our patients are now on Fybogel. Doctors aren't the slightest bit bothered which one the patient gets. Send the scripts back for amendment.

[bobbin]

Sorry folks, this has probably been covered lots of times already but does anyone hold any hope that there's going to be an improvement in what seems to be the ever increasing numbers of meds classed as either 'MCS' or 'quota exceeded'? It's driving me (and no doubt my patients) completely round the bend. The latest item we've exceeded our quota for is Ventolin nebules and I had a really difficult time trying to get GSK to authorise the wholesaler to release more. We're only ordering what we need for scripts and replacing what we're using I'm just getting so frustrated as it seems to be more and more items affected - is it just me? We can't seem to get Regulan for love nor money even though Procter and Gamble have told me twice that it's been available since the beginning of Feb. And why isn't the DoH stepping in to do something about it? I feel it's affecting my/the company's reputation with the customers and painting us in a bad light when all we're doing is trying to supply the stock that we get scripts for.

Sorry about the rant but I can't see any improvement any time soon.

There are issues with Ventolin nebs at the moment because Salamol Steri-Neb (TEVA) is out-of-stock, thus increasing the demand for Ventolin. Some of the other generics are available eg. the breath/Arrow generics brand.