Germany's VFA warns against wholesale fix

Germany's research-based pharmaceutical industry association, the VFA, has responded to a draft proposal by the Federal Department of Health to  force drugmakers to supply pharmacies at least partly via wholesalers.  The move is seen as an effort to prevent the recent trend towards  direct-to-pharmacy distribution arrangements, which have especially been  developed in the UK (Marketletters passim).

Cornelia Yzer, the VFA's chief executive, responded to the news, saying:  "in principle, the pharmaceutical industry stands for a plurality of  sales routes. Therefore the manufacturer must be able to make the  decision whether he selects direct over wholesale." She criticized  attempts to second-guess the most efficient distribution model by  legislators, adding: "a competitive solution, which leaves it to the  market, which delivery models succeed in the future, would be a better  watchword."