GSL/P DRUG DISPLAY IN UK PHARMACIES

Open display of General Sale List medications and prominent placing of Pharmacy medicines encourages consumers to seek pharmacists' advice on treatment of common ailments, a study by the Proprietary Association of Great Britain and the National Pharmaceutical Association has revealed.

The trial involved 42 UK pharmacies, 28 of which agreed to introduce GSL self-selection and comprehensive P product displays behind the counter during January-March, and 14 control pharmacies, which did not change their layout. 60% of consumers questioned on the increased display, indicating that a wider range of products was available, said it would make them "much more likely" to ask the pharmacist for advice, and 22% would be "a bit more likely." 56% said they would be "much more likely" to purchase medicines from the pharmacy, and 24% would be "a bit more likely." However, asked if the open display would encourage more medicine purchasing, 68% said it would not persuade them to increase their medicine purchasing.

Pharmacies which changed their display for the study found that the value of their GSL sales increased by 12.4% on average during the trial period, but there was no significant difference in levels of P sales. According to PAGB president John Ball, the increase in GSL sales did not represent sales to consumers of products which they might not need, but was in fact existing business being won back by the pharmacies from competitors such as supermarkets and drugstores.