The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7429 p655
2 December 2006

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Extending CD prescribing poses no risk

There are no safety concerns with allowing pharmacist and nurse independent prescribers to prescribe Controlled Drugs, the Commission on Human Medicines has decided.

At a meeting on 12 October, the CHM decided that so far as pharmacist and nurse independent prescribing are concerned, CDs should not be considered differently from any other medicines. Commissioners agreed that the legal classification of CDs related to their potential for diversion from the legitimate supply chain and misuse. They were unanimously of the view that there was no evidence that expanding CD prescribing to the new independent prescribers would lead to increased abuse.

Consequently, the CHM is to advise the Home Office’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs that independent prescribers should be allowed to prescribe any Schedule 2, 3, 4 or 5 CD according to their professional competence.