NPA Responds To WAG Consultation On Proposals To Charge On Carrier Bags

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 08 Sep 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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The NPA has called for all registered pharmacies to be exempt from the Welsh Assembly Government's proposals for there to be a charge to single use carrier bags.

Margaret Peycke, NPA Information Manager, said: "Medical products or surgical appliances must be suitably and securely packaged so that the contents cannot be identified during transport from the dispensary, or in the case of medicines purchased for self-care from the pharmacy counter. For larger items or a large number of smaller items this will involve the use of single use carrier bags. The reuse of patients own bags may present not only hygiene considerations but practical problems for pharmacies, especially when the pharmacy collects the prescription from the surgery, orders the items, dispenses them and has them waiting for the patient or their carer to collect. To ensure confidentiality and security the majority of pharmacies bag and seal the items on a prescription as soon as it has been dispensed."

"To exempt part of the business from charging for the bags and expect the charge to be levied when the bags are used for other products for example baby nappies and milk will be virtually impossible to interpret, implement and maintain accurate records. We therefore propose that all supply of single use carry bags by community pharmacy should be exempt from the levy. This is a pragmatic solution to what otherwise would be a situation which is not only near impossible to manage but also risks damaging the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals in the community."

Source
National Pharmacy Association