Inquiry Into UK Medicine Supplies

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has begun a probe into the UK supply of medicines, after changes at the world’s biggest pharmaceutical firm, Pfizer. Earlier this month, Pfizer began selling its prescription drugs through just one medical wholesaler, Unichem.

The OFT said its study would consider the impact of the move on competition, the NHS and patients. It said that the health service spends more than £10bn per year on prescription medicines. UK pharmacies provided more than 800 million prescriptions per year, it added.

“Recent changes in the distribution arrangements for some medicines have caused great concern to many in the market,” said Ann Pope, the OFT’s director in markets and projects. It is important for us to understand the likely impact of these changes on patients and costs to the NHS.”

Earlier this month, eight rival wholesalers tried to secure a High Court injunction to stop Pfizer going ahead with the change to its distribution system.