PHARMACY BUSINESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19454, 13 October 1937, Page 2

PHARMACY BUSINESS

SCHEME FOR REGULATION COUNCIL PROPOSED INDUSTRY BUREAU'S PLAN (Special to tho Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day. Since the scheme for rationalisation of the pharmacy industry broke down because of tho refusal, of certain manufacturing interests to join in the merger, the Bureau of Industry has been at work in preparing another scheme for the regulation and control of the industry, and has now produced, under the Industrial Efficiency Act, a plan which it describes as tentative only. The plan formed the subject of a conference last week at Wellington, and its proposals, which are farreaching, are now being deliberatea on by sections interested. While it represents an attempt to control the whole of the pharmacy industry within the Dominion, critics describe as a weakness the fact that it takes no account of the effects of overseas competition. Scope of Proposed Council Under the plan it is proposed to set up a Pharmacy Council, whose duties will be administrative. This council will include a Director of Pharmacy, two Government representatives, an employees' representative, and representatives of retail chemists, but apparently it is not intended to include a representative of manufacturers of drugs. This Pharmacy Council will distribute licenses to retail chemists according to population needs, and it will control the proposed co-oper-ative buving organisation. Its duties chieflv concern retail chemists' trade, and in this respect it. will probably be governed to a great degree by suggestions in the plan, which sets out that the standard of prices aimed at should be those of a certain overseas chain organisation. In addition to the Pharmacy Council there will be an advisory council which, besides containing representatives of retail chemists, will include the Government Analyist and representatives of manufacturers. This advisory council, working under the bureau and the Minister, can recommend restriction in manufacture of any particular line by any particular firm. Manufacturing Industry It is pointed out in criticism that this provision brings rationalisation into the wholesale industry for the obvious intention is to reduce prices by introducing specialisation, so far as possible. The manufacturing Industry covers a wide range of businesses which supply not only retail chemists, but many other classes or trade. While manufacturing chemists must employ licensed chemists, this provision is also extended' into the packing and repacking trades which deal with drugs or such products as cosmetics. Licensed chemists will not only be empowered to sell prescribed drugs, but also cosmetics, photographic appliances, etc. Suggested license fees to be paid by retail chemists embody a minimum of £l2 10s a year up to a £SOOO a year turnover. Of this sum the Bureau of Industry is to take £2 2s. The plan has been in preparation sThce February last, and it sets out many suggestions for the guidance of chemists, including the necessity for bright window displays. Though it is not included in the plan, it is stated that an integral part of the control scheme will be restriction of the sale of certain products and articles to chemists only. It is further stated that the list has been prepared but, until the plan is accepted and becomes official, it is not proposed to publish it. Doubtless it will be Gazetted.