From Mr D. R. Evans, MRPharmS
SIR,—What a contrary world we practise in! I learned recently that the Department of Health is rushing through the P classification of Levonelle-2 for use in emergency hormonal contraception by December 1, some four months after being on the market.
In the veterinary field, the classification of medicines is decided by the Veterinary Products Committee, a subcommittee of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. There are many prophylactic treatments for companion animals that meet all the criteria needed to be classed as either as P or PML medicines. One of the key criteria is that a new product must have been on the market for five years.
Can someone explain to me why we can have potentially controversial human medicines new to the market deregulated on the whim of the Government, yet all we are promised with veterinary medicines is a review that will take a year to report to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with no definite outcome?
David Evans Director, Brian G. Spencer Ltd, Heanor, Derbyshire