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Health Bill

I would like to express a further concern in this area. Small pharmacists provide an important service to people who are housebound, particularly in delivering prescriptions to them, sometimes at short notice. They will deliver other products at the same time, including over-the-counter medicines that the person might want. They form a very personal relationship, which does not get established with a large provider, such as a pharmacy in a large supermarket. A small pharmacist has to cost in that additional quality service, however, and therefore cannot lower prices to be competitive at face value with a large supermarket. Simply to look at price would probably be to deprive local communities of an important community support service.