Dispensing Report needs careful analysis

NOAH welcomes the publication of the Report of the Independent Review of Dispensing by Veterinary Surgeons of Prescription Only Medicines. It is a wide ranging report, reflecting the systematic and thorough approach taken by the Review Team in its preparation.

It is a long report which will requires detailed study, both as to contents and implications, to do justice to the care which was taken putting it together, and to consider all the implications of its proposals.

Nevertheless, at first sight we note with pleasure many recommendations that are in line with NOAH's own recommendations to the Review Team. Other recommendations add impetus to the Doyle Report on Medicines Availability, voted through the European Parliament earlier this month, which was welcomed by NOAH and its European federation FEDESA.

Access to licensed animal medicines is essential for animal health and welfare, the prosperity of livestock farmers and the ability of veterinary surgeons and owners to carry out their duty of care. The total cost of treatment is what matters, not just the price of the medicine itself. However some recommendations may actually increase the overall cost to farmers and other animal owners.

One particular area is potentially harmful, and requires careful discussion: the proposal for companion animal vets across Europe to have greater freedom to use (human) 'generics' may appear helpful in the short term. However, the reality is that vets would be left 'on their own' - using products with no approved animal indications and without the technical support of animal medicine companies. The longer term effect could be even more negative; as Review Team

Chairman Sir John Marsh explains in his introduction: "Without a price sufficient to cover these costs (of R & D etc) the supply of new animal medicines would cease, resulting in avoidable economic losses to farmers and a less satisfactory range of treatments to ensure welfare for all animals".

In the final analysis, the success of this Review will depend on the Government's response, and whether access to these vital products is improved or further red tape is created.

This is a carefully constructed Report, and many of its recommendations could dovetail together. However, there is a danger that, if recommendations were adopted piecemeal, the final result could be quite different to that apparently intended by the Review Team and certainly those who gave evidence.

The Report now goes to the Government for comment. NOAH will be working alongside others involved with the health and welfare of animals to try to ensure that the best points of this Report come to fruition in their entirety, while the implications of other proposals are properly understood.

22 May 2001

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Roger Cook or Alison Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH website.
   
2. The National Office of Animal Health was formed on 1 January 1986 to represent the UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animal health products. The association has 35 corporate members and 10 associate members. In 2000 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the £357 million UK animal health market, with additional valuable exports.
   
3. The report of the Independent Review of Dispensing by Veterinary Surgeons of Prescription Only Medicines was undertaken by an independent review team for Minister of Agriculture the Rt Hon Nick Brown MP. Its term of reference were:
   
   • To review the procedures by which prescription only medicines (POMs) for veterinary use are classified and sold in the United Kingdom and the impact current practices may be having on availability and prices.
   • To make recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by 31 March 2001.

   The members of the review group were Professor Sir John Marsh CBE (Chairman), Dr Jeremy Lucke BVSc, PhD, MRCVS, Mr John E Moffitt CBE DCL, FRASE and Lady Yardley NDD DipEd.