Local Pharmacists Under Threat from Superstore Competition

5.10.00pm GMT Tue 25th Feb 2003

As a result of a recommendation by the Office of Fair Trading local community pharmacists could soon find themselves driven out of business as a result of competition from the supermarkets.

Vincent Cable, MP, has co-sponsored a motion in parliament calling on the government to reject the findings of the OFT, and has written to 19 local pharmacists (there are around 30 in the borough) to support them in the battle ahead.

At present supermarkets can and do compete with pharmacists in providing common over-the-counter drugs (like Aspirin) very cheaply: some pharmacists have already set up shops inside supermarkets (as in Tesco at Mogden Lane) but competition is still restricted by controls on the prices of many products.

Under the OFT ruling these restrictions will be swept away as will, many fear, the community chemists.

Vincent Cable said: "The competition ruling is superficially attractive, opening up the full range of pharmaceuticals to price competition. But it could be the death knell for the local chemist in the High Street. These perform a very valuable function giving professional advice and guidance, taking the pressure off GPs and hospitals. "

"They often do a collection service for local GPS (e.g. the two chemists in Hampton and the Maple Leaf on Twickenham Green) which is of great value in helping elderly and sick "

"people having to travel long distances for their medicines. I hope the government will heed the objections. "

"If chemists went the way of local butchers, bakers and greengrocers there would be a real loss to the community".