The 23rd edition of 'Medicines, ethics and practice: A guide for pharmacists' has now been published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The latest edition contains 136 pages of information to assist practising pharmacists.
The principal changes in the new edition arise from amendments to legal or ethical requirements since the 22nd edition. In Part 1, which covers general legal requirements, the tables explaining the legal status of aspirin and paracetamol products have been reinstated to the alphabetical list of medicines for human use. Elsewhere in Part 1, there is new information relating to the sale of Schedule 1 non-medicinal poisons, the supply of methylated spirits and exemptions from controls on the retail sales of veterinary drugs.
Part 2, which contains the Code of Ethics and professional standards, now includes the new Standard 19, relating to the provision of pharmacy services via the internet (PJ, January 1, p9).
In Part 3, which gives practice advice, the guidelines on pharmacy computer systems have been revised to reflect recent changes in regulations and practice, and new advice covers the care of people with diabetes.
'Medicines, ethics and practice' is published by the Society as a day-to-day reference source for practising pharmacists. Copies of the new edition are being sent next week direct to members of the Society with registered addresses in Great Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, other than those paying the reduced retention fee for members aged over 60 years who are not in gainful employment. Copies are also being sent to preregistration trainees and, in bulk, to all UK schools of pharmacy.
Additional copies of the guide are available for purchase from the Publications Department, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 1 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7JN. Copies cost £7.95 each (£9.95 for overseas addresses), including postage and packing.
The Society's Professional Standards Directorate reminds pharmacists that the Society's Code of Ethics requires the current edition of the guide to be available for consultation in all dispensaries.
Given below are the first additions to the lists of medicines included in the new edition. The abbreviations used are explained in the key to annotations in the body of the guide. Cumulative lists of amendments will subsequently be printed in The Journal in the first issue of each month.
Human medicines | Actal pastils PO |
Lysovir capsules POM |
| Correction The legal category of Oxycontin tablets and Oxynorm preparations is CD(Sch 2) POM. |