AAH Pharmaceuticals MD calls for government openness on cuts

AAH Pharmaceuticals managing director (MD) Mark James has called on the government to provide clarification on its stance towards pharmacy sector cuts.

Mr James told Chemist and Druggist that pharmacy minister Earl Howe should be “open and honest” about its plans on funding reduction, following the publication of the McKinsey report.

In the document, plans were outlined by the government to recoup costs in a way that will reduce the revenue of wholesalers.

Mr James warned that this would harm community pharmacies and instead emphasised another suggestion in the report to provide patients with an alternative care pathway for minor ailments, stating that pharmacists could play this role.

The AAH MD said: “I hope Earl Howe will recognise that and commit to the sensible parts of the report and reject those that would damage community pharmacy in England.”

AAH is the UK’s leading pharmaceutical and healthcare products and services distributor, currently employing around 3,800 members of staff across Britain.