The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7281 p5
3/10 January 2004

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Related websites
MHRA: Consultation letter MLX 298 (PDF 90K)

Specials extension to supplementary prescribing

Plans are being made to extend the prescribing rights of supplementary prescribers to include unlicensed medicines supplied as specials and extemporaneously dispensed medicines. Supplementary prescribers are currently only allowed to prescribe licensed medicines and reformulated medicines where tablets or capsules have to be crushed or opened and prepared as liquids.

Consultation letter MLX 298 (PDF 90K), issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency at the end of last year, seeks views on the plans.

Legislative changes under the Medicines Act 1968 will apply throughout the UK as far as supplementary prescribing in general is concerned. The consultation letter says that NHS supplementary prescribers in England should have the extended right, but that it will be for the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to make their own decisions on its application within the NHS in their localities.

The proposals include a provision to prevent supplementary prescribers receiving specials from manufacturers or wholesalers for direct supply to patients. The rationale for this is that supplementary prescribers are advised not to be involved in the formulation, preparation and supply of medicines they have themselves prescribed.

  * PDF files on PJ Online require Acrobat Reader 4 or later