Trust criticised for drugs sales

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/surrey/8519458.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A hospital trust has been criticised for selling more than £4m-worth of drugs abroad.

The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which has a licence to sell drugs, said it made £300,000 from the practice during the past year.

The Department of Health said trading in medicines was "unacceptable" and could lead to shortages in the UK.

But the trust said it ceased the trade in January and had not sold any drugs that were in short supply.

The practice was revealed in the Health Service Journal after a freedom of information request into the trust's finances.

Wholesale supplies

A trust spokeswoman said: "The Royal Surrey County Hospital has a history of manufacturing and supplying drugs to other health care organisations under a licence which we hold.

"We have more recently also supplied a wholesaler with drugs that are widely available.

"The amount of income received from this source in 2009/10 is estimated at £4.6m, contributing a margin to the trust of around 6%, or £300,000.

"At no time were drugs supplied which were on the PaSA [Purchasing and Supply Agency] list of drugs in short supply.

Such activities are wrong and threaten the medicines supply chain and patient care Department of Health spokeswoman

"The board decided to cease trading in January 2010 and the trust refutes the statement that it has made millions.

"As already stated, the total surplus from this activity is estimated to be £300,000 in the full 2009/2010 year."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "The department is aware of a report that hospitals have considered trading in medicines for short term financial gain.

"Such activities are wrong and threaten the medicines supply chain and patient care.

"The chief pharmaceutical officer wrote to all chief hospital pharmacists in England on 14 July 2009 to make clear that such behaviour is wholly unacceptable and contrary to acceptable professional behaviour.

"This message was reinforced in guidance published last November by the government together with supply chain organisations on the legal and ethical duties that apply to manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies and hospitals."