Pfizer-Unichem exclusivity deal

[Zoggite]

Well Folks, what do we think about Pfizer's latest bright idea of selling its POMs via Unichem only, "to avoid counterfeit drugs landing in the legitimate supply chain"? I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night!
I can feel a bit of a Boycott-mood coming over me... after all, none of Pfizer's meds are really unique in their class; Cialis could quite well be p'bed instead of Viagra, amlodipine maleate instead of istin, and as for lipitor...
Granted, it's not 100% identical, but I really feel that this time, the Pharmaceutical industry is pushing its luck just a little bit too far by wanting to control the supply chain. This could put a large private company in a position where it could apply dangerous pressure fringeing on blackmail, to the public health sector.
Am I over-reacting?

[Linnear]

What makes me laugh is the idea that Unichem has better security than anyone else!

They couldn't organise a p*ss up in a brewery!

If anyone were at fault for counterfeit drugs getting into the legitiamte supply chain I'd have thought of the pratts at Unichem first!

[Steve G]

and how are they going to be able to deliver to every UK pharmacy?

[Jeff]

Well Folks, what do we think about Pfizer's latest bright idea of selling its POMs via Unichem only

Imagine cutting most pharmacist out of the supply chain.
The pharmacy contractors/wholesalers are talking of hub and spoke arrangements already.
Pfizer and the other large players will need to be in a competitive position.
Will the ETP go to A.N.Other pharmacy or direct to a central hub and then be deliver to either the patient or collection point.

Jeff

[Zoggite]

It's started already!
Today's PJ, p.445, reads:
"From 16 october, orders and customer service queries relating to Atarax and Deltacortril should be directed to the Alliance sales office"...
The words "wedge" and "thin edge" come to mind...!

[Linnear]

A couple of people on the pharmacist e-mail weblist group that I'm trying not to name so I don't upset admin had a good idea:

Pharmacist 1: I'm going to order 1 item every order

Pharmacist 2: I'm going to order 7 every order and return 6!


If everyone did that within 12 months Unichem would probably be bankrupt!


Also did you see what someone said in the PJ. Dispensing Drs are usually one of my pet hates but wait to see what they do. They could be a great ally in this fight.

Also any pharmacists out there that work very closely with GP surgeries should go to them and explain what's going on and offer to help the GPs switch those patients that can be to non-Pfizer drugs.

[Zoggite]

Ooooh- is it bitchfest-time again?

[Linnear]

It's always bitch fest time isn't it?

[Pharmanaut]

A couple of people on the pharmacist e-mail weblist group that I'm trying not to name so I don't upset admin had a good idea:

Pharmacist 1: I'm going to order 1 item every order

Pharmacist 2: I'm going to order 7 every order and return 6!


If everyone did that within 12 months Unichem would probably be bankrupt!


Also did you see what someone said in the PJ. Dispensing Drs are usually one of my pet hates but wait to see what they do. They could be a great ally in this fight.

Also any pharmacists out there that work very closely with GP surgeries should go to them and explain what's going on and offer to help the GPs switch those patients that can be to non-Pfizer drugs.

There's also a way of protesting in the pharmacists hands.
OTC medicines from Pfizer consumer health are not part of the exclusivity deal. (Note - this is my best understanding of the situation)
If you feel strongly about Pfizer you could always not order their OTC products and recommend alternatives.

[BBL]

When leaping in with both feet, it's advisable to look first

It's started already!
Today's PJ, p.445, reads:
"From 16 october, orders and customer service queries relating to Atarax and Deltacortril should be directed to the Alliance sales office"...
The words "wedge" and "thin edge" come to mind...!

Pfizer have divested the UK rights to DeltaCortril and Atarax to Alliance Pharmaceuticals not Alliance-Unichem

There's also a way of protesting in the pharmacists hands.
OTC medicines from Pfizer consumer health are not part of the exclusivity deal. (Note - this is my best understanding of the situation)
If you feel strongly about Pfizer you could always not order their OTC products and recommend alternatives.

You really are a well informed bunch! - Pfizer has divested it's OTC business to J&J