The Department of Health has confirmed that the Medicines Control Agency is considering an application to allow over-the-counter sales of hormonal emergency contraception from pharmacies (our Lobby correspondent writes).
An expected consultation period is currently open-ended and the change from a prescription medicine to a pharmacy medicine may take longer than the regular six-month reclassification cycle.
A Whitehall official said: "Expert advice will be sought from the Committee on Safety of Medicines and there will be a period of public consultation before a decision is reached."
The Department decided to break from its normal practice of not revealing in advance deliberations on changing the legal status of particular medicines because of publicity released by the companies involved.
A pilot scheme involving POM supply under a group protocol by 16 community pharmacies in Manchester, Salford and Trafford is running to the end of June (PJ, January 8, p44). A second pilot is expected to start in Lambeth, London, in April.