Wales explores central purchasing

摘要

Central purchasing of medicines for use in primary care in Wales is to be investigated to see whether a workable system can be developed. Centralised purchasing was a key recommendation of the Auditor General for Wales, Sir John Bourne, in a report earlier this year (PJ, 29 March, p430). Sir John estimates potential savings on the Welsh drugs bill of up to ￡5 Om.A Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) paper put before the Assembly's Audit Committee on 27 November accepts the recommendation despite advice to the contrary from the All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group's chairman.