brand vs generic dispensing

[johnep]

Situation of NHS funding or not at all if pt wants a brand of medicine is illustrated by the controversy over cancer drugs. However, the NHS is riddled with items such as nebulisers and glucose meters where the capital item has to be funded by the pt, yet the consumables are funded by the NHS.

The whole system needs reorganising.
johnep

[lamzee]

Originally Posted by Fleegle

Apologise for the confusion, however my point is that if various local GPs favour different branded generics, and prescribe them as such, must that specific branded product be supplied, or can the pharmacy substitute the brand they stock? If not, surely this could result in a build-up of overstocked brands of the same product, and a potential loss of discount.

I think, Fleegle, the problem is that in the UK, the PPA manually checks the rxs for payment, so if you dispense amoxil or galenamox for amoxicillin, then you will not be paid correctly/at all(?), whereas if you (yourself) are working in Ireland, you can substitute your pinamox for clonamox etc, put it through electronic claims, no one will notice and you will be paid (legal or not????).

I've worked under both systems and I think the UK PPAs are over-dogmatic and the Irish PPA (HSE-PCRS) are under-dogmatic. Unless you are claiming for something unlicenced, where the reverse is true!!!

[Fleegle]

Words of true wisdom there Zee..I get the picture now..and you're bang on about ULMs by the way!