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ARTICLE · 30 MARCH 2010

OFT Issues Report on Impact of 2003 Pharmacies Market Study

SJ Berwin LLP
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A report assessing the effects of a 2003 study into the retail pharmaceutical market was published this week by the Office of Fair Trading (the "OFT"). The report highlights various benefits that have resulted from the implementation of certain of the study's recommendations.

United KingdomAntitrust/Competition Law
SJ Berwin'S EU & Competition Team
SJ Berwin'S EU & Competition Team

A report assessing the effects of a 2003 study into the retail pharmaceutical market was published this week by the Office of Fair Trading (the "OFT"). The report highlights various benefits that have resulted from the implementation of certain of the study's recommendations.

The original OFT study, which was carried out between 2001 and 2003, concluded that competition and consumer choice in the dispensing pharmacy market would be greatly enhanced by the removal of all regulatory restrictions on entry. These restrictions were, for example, considered by the OFT to be stifling innovation, artificially depressing both customer choice of pharmacy and access to over the counter ("OTC") drugs, and increasing compliance costs for companies and the NHS. The OFT recommended that all pharmacies should be able to dispense NHS prescriptions and should be allowed to compete more openly by lifting the existing regulations.

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