Opening up pharmacy contracts to competitive tender processes risks putting independent operators at the mercy of large corporations.

That was the warning from Department of Health member Ann Corlett.

Mrs Corlett (Douglas Central) confirmed this week that her department would need a special waiver to continue with the policy of not putting pharmacy contracts out to competitive tender.

But she said: ’As for competitive tendering, personally I have a problem with that in that we have very large companies who could afford to competitively tender and we have very small individual pharmacies who could not afford a reduced rate in their dispensing fee.

playing field

’It would be hard to have a level playing field.’

The issue was raised in the House of Keys this week when Julie Edge (Onchan) asked when pharmaceutical services were last tendered competitively.

Mrs Corlett said they had never been put out to competitive tender.

There were 23 community pharmacies contracted to serve hospital outpatients and the patients of GPs and dentists.

’All 23 contracts were awarded following a formal application process to Department of Health and Social Care,’ she said. ’Like the UK, there is no end date on the contract.

’There is a shortage of many healthcare professionals on the island and pharmacists are no exception.’

Pharmacists also gave advice and managed minor ailments, as well as providing a needle exchange, she said.

’While the role of pharmacists in our local communities has not yet expanded as far as in some other jurisdictions, pharmacists are critical in supporting the health of the Isle of Man population and, for this reason, contracts are not currently offered on a time-limited basis,’ Mrs Corlett added.

’If they were, this could seriously damage the number of contractors willing to invest in setting up businesses in the island.’

A waiver from normal procurement procedures has already been granted to ensure the DHSC does not have to go out for competitive tender for GPs and dentists.

Community pharmacy contracts are awarded based on a pharmaceutical needs assessment, which focuses on the need for a pharmacy in a specific location - rather than specific applications - to see if there are sufficient pharmacies in the right place.

One such assessment for the island has been completed recently and the findings will be revealed in the new year.

’This will inform commissioning intentions for pharmacy services which will be presented to the department in 2018,’ said Mrs Corlett.