AstraZeneca’s UK unit to handle orders from Polish pharmacies

2010-02-23

Effective from 27 February, AstraZeneca UK will assume responsibility for the collection of orders from pharmacies in Poland for the direct distribution of the company’s medicines to the Polish drug retail market, the company announced on its website. In a letter sent to Polish pharmacies participating in the drug maker’s direct-to-pharmacy (DTP) distribution scheme, William McIlnveen of AstraZeneca UK stressed that the terms and conditions would not be affected and that distribution would still be handled by three exclusive distribution partners, Polska Grupa Farmaceutyczna (PGF), Torfarm and Prosper.
According to the magazine, the move is one of several changes being introduced by AstraZeneca in response to concerns about its DTP scheme raised by the Main Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (GIF).
Last year the GIF concluded that the system failed to ensure equal access to its medicines for all pharmacies and wholesalers and ordered the company to bring it into line with the Pharmaceutical Act as regards equal access. AstraZeneca denied the criticism but said it would modify its system to allay the GIF’s concerns.