Plan to allow prison officers to supply medicines
Proposals to allow prison officers to supply general sale list medicines to inmates have been issued for consultation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
The plan, set out in consultation document MLX304 (PDF 140K), is to allow
prison officers to supply single doses of common medicines on request.
Views
on whether supply should be restricted to analgesics and antacids or
should include all GSL medicines are sought. The proposals apply equally
to prison service staff and to staff of contractually managed prisons.
Two options have been put forward. The first option, that prison staff
should be enabled to supply GSL medicines under patient group directions,
is less favoured because PGDs are intended to be used by health professionals.
The preferred option is to amend the Medicines (Pharmacy and General
Sale — Exemption) Order 1980 to exempt prison officers from the
requirement of the Medicines Act 1968 that GSL medicines may only be
supplied in manufacturers’ packs.
Supplies will only be allowed to be made by prison officers when prison
health care facilities are unavailable (ie, closed or absent).
Comments can be sent to Anne Ryan, MHRA, 16–142 Market Towers,
1 Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5NQ (e-mail anne.ryan@MHRA.gsi.gov.uk) until
1 July. |
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