LONDON, December 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to today's OFT recommendations on medicines distribution in the UK, Hemant Patel, President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), said:

"The OFT have identified important areas of risk that could have severe consequences for the services provided by pharmacies to patients and also for NHS budgets.

"The RPSGB will be seeking assurances from the Department of Health that procedures will be put in place to ensure that direct to pharmacy (DTP) schemes do not limit pharmacists' ability to provide medicines to patients in a timely and efficient manner."

The OFT report states: "We find that DTP has the potential to result in a reduction in the service levels provided to pharmacies, and the services that pharmacies as a result are able to bring to patients" (p56 Chapter 4).

For media enquiries please contact the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's Public Relations Unit +44(0)20-7572-2653.