Still waiting on recall review findings

Community pharmacy is waiting with bated breath for the results of the review of pharmacy recalls, ordered by health minister Tony Ryall on 3 June.
The review commenced on 8 June and acting deputy director-general (sector capability & innovation) Ashley Bloomfield was asked to prepare a report for the minister by 28 June, with a set of recommendations for his approval.
On 21 July, in a written response to Pharmacy Today’s repeated queries, Dr Bloomfield said a report on the review was completed in early July.
He said the director-general has since considered the findings and recommendations and these are being discussed with the minister.

“The delay in releasing the report is due to leave taken during the first two weeks of July by key individuals involved,” Dr Bloomfield says.

Among other things, the pharmacy recall review is supposed to have considered the need or options for reimbursement of pharmacist activities undertaken in response to a medicines  recall.

Such a reimbursement is currently the subject of two community pharmacy litigations in the Manukau District Court and the Disputes Tribunal against GlaxoSmithKline for the Marevan 3mg recall.

The ministry’s review is giving specific consideration to legal and professional obligations, and concern expressed by the Pharmacy Guild the tasks performed by pharmacies during a recall “are not paid for by anyone”.

When asked if the delay in releasing the report had anything to do with the ongoing litigation with GSK, Dr Bloomfield says current litigation is relevant to how the issue of pharmacy recalls is resolved, but it is not the reason for the delay in releasing the report.

“The ministry believes the issue of compensation is best resolved in tandem with a review of the recall process. All stakeholders agreed that such a review is timely and Medsafe has now commenced this review with a view to completing it before the end of the year.”

While reviewing Medsafe’s recall procedures to see if they’re in alignment with international standards, the recall review is supposed to consider legislative frameworks and the DHB pharmacy contract with respect to medicine recalls. RK

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