APSM

An article published today (8 December 2015)  in the Daily Mail ‘High Street Chemists who charge the NHS £300 for skin creams that should cost £12’, contains a number of significant inaccuracies about the Specials market and APSM activities.     Here follows the APSM response to the facts presented within the article. DAILY MAIL QUOTE:  The practice has been exposed by the BAD which says up to £400m a year of taxpayers’ money is being wasted on paying too much for these treatments.  Even 2% salicylic acid cream which can be effective for these conditions costs the NHS £75m per year. APSM Response:  Dermatology Specials are a small proportion of Specials spend in primary care – approximately £1m per year. The total spend on Specials in England in 2014 was £89.5million in primary care.  A very small percentage of this is for dermatology specials through community pharmacy.    Only a small number of Dermatology products are in the top 500 specials*.    In the last

The APSM, Association of Pharmaceutical Specials Manufacturers, is reminding pharmacists of the importance of 24 hour turnaround for bespoke Specials prescriptions.  All APSM members sign up to a commitment of timely delivery to patients 1 and for all members that now means next day delivery as standard.     Members report that between 95-99% of orders are despatched the same day of receipt for delivery the following. Said, APSM Chair Sharon Griffith, “What may have started as an effort to offer competitive advantage – we’re happy to say is now the norm amongst APSM members which is good news for patients.   Patients who are prescribed Specials often have a specific and urgent clinical need - they should not have to wait for this medicine just because it isn’t a licensed or off the shelf preparation.” Although Specials manufacturers are geared towards bespoke manufacture it can still present a challenge.  With more than 20,000 potential preparations on our systems – we can’t pred

David Clough, Sales & Marketing Director for Eaststone Specials, has been appointed Vice Chair of the Association of Pharmaceutical Specials Manufacturers, APSM. David has been in the Specials sector for five years working for commercial licensed manufacturers. Prior to that he was at Goldshield Pharmaceuticals.  He steps into the APSM role during an important phase in the development of the Specials sector.  Said David, “Since the introduction of the Tariff, the Specials sector is enjoying a period of stability and we are able to focus our attention on building a high-quality, sustainable sector that fulfils a critical role in supplying much needed medicines.  Our focus in on working with our stakeholders to ensure better knowledge and greater collaboration in decisions affecting Specials and ultimately patients.”  “We are also keen to engage with commercial, licensed manufacturers of Specials who are not currently members.” The Chair of the APSM is Sharon Griffiths, Managi

There are positive signs that the balance between cost and quality is being restored in the Specials market – certainly according to the latest annual Specials Survey, conducted by the APSM. For the first time since the survey began in 2012, fewer pharmacists are referring to CCGs as the first source of advice about dispensing Specials (34% compared with 52.5% in 2013), turning instead to RPS Guidelines (47.5%) or the GP (47%).  However, there is still evidence of pressure to reduce Specials spend with almost two thirds of pharmacists stating that they are monitoring spend on Specials, or that they are being asked by their CCGs to reduce or monitor Specials dispensing.   The APSM Survey also points to the fact that pharmacists have a good understanding of Specials (over 75 % feel they have enough information or experience compared with 57% in 2013) and have a positive view of the role of Specials, with 80% agreeing that they are essential to meet the special clinical needs o