A CAMPAIGN by chemists to stop price cutting on over-the-counter medicines, has won the support of Burnley MP, Peter Pike.

He says the campaign by multiple groups such as ASDA to force an end to retail Price Maintenance on non-prescription medicines, could force local pharmacies out of business.

Mr Pike has received petitions containing several hundred names, opposing abolition and has sent copies to the Secretary of State for Health and the Office of Fair Trading and has written in support of maintaining RPM.

He said: "Local chemists rely on the sale of non-prescription medicines and products to subsidise their other activities.

"If RPM were to be abolished then large supermarkets with resources to undercut prices would force many chemists to reduce the range of products stocked, or ultimately close." Mr Pike added: "Local chemists play a vital role in the community and are especially important for the elderly, people with young children and those who do no have access to transport.

Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Community Health Council will also be debating the issue at its area meeting at Burnley town hall on Monday night.

The patients' watchdog group has received a request from the Community Pharmacy Action Group - a consortium of interested parties - to support its campaign against abolition.

Over-the-counter medicine is the only area of trading still restricted by price maintenance - the only other restrictive practice - covering book sales - collapsed last year following similar pressure from major retailers.

ASDA claim customers would make big savings on everyday drugs if RPM was swept away.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.