Commentary on Sections Part 2: Pharmaceutical Services Chapter 1: Local Pharmaceutical Services
160.Chapter 1 of Part 2 provides for new arrangements under which community pharmacy and related services may be provided on a piloted basis. At present, pharmaceutical services, including the dispensing of NHS prescriptions, are provided by community pharmacies, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors under arrangements made with Health Authorities in accordance with Part 2 of the 1977 Act, and in particular regulations made under sections 41 and 42 of that Act. These arrangements are referred to below as “Part 2 pharmaceutical services”.
161.The new arrangements will be known as Local Pharmaceutical Services and will provide an alternative legal framework for the provision of pharmaceutical services, under locally agreed contracts. Local Pharmaceutical Services will first be provided under pilot schemes, which are intended to develop and demonstrate innovative ways of providing high quality, cost-effective services to patients. They will be similar to PMS and PDS pilot schemes, established under the NHS (Primary Care) Act 1997. Many of the provisions in this Part of the Act (and in particular sections 31 to 34) are modelled on the equivalent provisions in that Act.