| Abstract: | This study was designed to elicit the views of community pharmacists on any perceived business and professional changes following the loss of resale price maintenance (RPM) A piloted, 22‐point self‐completion questionnaire containing open, closed and scaled response questions was distributed to 35 independent (<10 stores), 13 multiple group and three supermarket‐based pharmacies, and 40 responses were obtained (29 independent, eight multiple and three supermarket) Theme analysis indicated that 20 respondents felt that an increased range of services was now provided, 27 reported a decreased sales potential and 25 thought that patients now purchased more medicines The average price at which eight common over‐the‐counter medicines were offered was found to be £4.34 in independents, £4.37 in multiples and £4.22 in the supermarket pharmacies, compared with an average standard list price of £4.32 There are indications that removal of RPM may have instigated changes in community pharmacy |
