On 16th March 2022, the Department of Health and Social Care launched its long-anticipated open consultation and consultation document into whether the law should be changed to allow community pharmacies to use ‘Hub & Spoke’ dispensing business models. In the consultation document, the DH stated that pursuing legislative change and allowing community pharmacies to benefit from ‘hub and spoke’ dispensing models would level the playing field between smaller pharmacies and larger organisations.
What is Hub and Spoke dispensing?
There are several processes involved in dispensing such as sourcing, preparation, assembly, receipt of prescriptions, etc. The different dispensing processes are traditionally completed in a single pharmacy whereas in a Hub and Spoke dispensing model some elements of the processes can be undertaken in different pharmacy premises.
At the present time, only larger pharmacy organisations can make use of the hub and spoke business model and the restrictions preventing hub and spoke arrangements from taking place in different businesses are putting smaller pharmacies at a disadvantage.
The Consultation
The consultation is currently seeking views on removing the restrictions and amending section 10 of the Medicines Act 1968. To ensure that patient safety is maintained, further broader policy proposals will be implemented via amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. The consultation will close after 12 weeks, and responses are being accepted through the online survey from 16th March 2022 to 8th June 2022.