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Minister Andy Burnham addresses BAPW Annual Reception

The BAPW held its second ever Parliamentary Reception, on 17th October 2006 on the House of Commons Terrace. Hosted by Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Sandra Gidley MP, a pharmacist by trade, the event attracted approximately 90 attendees including government officials, regulators and MPs representing the Shadow health team and All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Pharmacy and Patient Safety.

Our keynote speaker was Minister of State for Quality and Delivery Andy Burnham MP, who praised full-line pharmaceutical wholesalers for being the ‘invisible backbone’ of the NHS. He acknowledged the huge amount of work wholesalers undertake to stock pharmacies with medicines in a safe way, which is of direct benefit to patients and of crucial importance to the NHS, as well as wholesalers contributing to regional economies. Mr Burnham remarked that it is an exciting time for community pharmacy, with patients being encouraged to take more control over their own care and the distribution channel is expanding accordingly at a local level to support patients in achieving this.

Our recently appointed Chairman Ian Brownlee gave his inaugural speech in his new role. Ian noted that only full-line pharmaceutical wholesalers can:

• Safely sort and deliver over two billion individual items each year with astonishingly short lead times, rapidity and punctuality of supply
• Supply pharmacy with over half of their IT systems
• Ensure access to a comprehensive and complete range of products
• Deliver MHRA approved product recall on behalf of manufacturers
• Ensure speedy and widespread access to market for manufacturers new products
• Add value to the NHS
• Be the invisible backbone of the NHS

He announced the launch of the BAPW ‘Gold Standard' of Good Distribution Practice (available on the home page of this website), which is a compilation of measures already being undertaken at an operational level by our members. Endorsed by the MHRA, its purpose is to share best practice and demonstrate how full-line wholesalers efficiently and safely ensure distribution of medicinal products and adhere to rigorous quality checks and standards.

Ian said:

“In the coming year, the BAPW will be committed to ensuring:

• The current model of full-line wholesaling continues to add value to the entire supply chain
• That no patient in the NHS goes without the medicines they need
• That we maintain our positive and open dialogue with all our stakeholders
• Our emergency out-of-hours service is maintained

We believe that we can meet these commitments and hope that you will work with us to help achieve them.”