Society starts consultation on self-selection of P medicines
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has begun
a consultation on whether pharmacies should be able to display pharmacy medicines for self-selection by members of the public (see p261).
Unlike the requirement that P medicines should be sold only by or under
the supervision of a pharmacist, the current ruling that P medicine should
be displayed out of the reach of customers is not a legal necessity but
an ethical restriction in the Code of Ethics and Standards. The Society’s
Council has for some years been considering relaxing the restriction
and in 2001 it allowed a few pharmacies to undertake trials in which
P medicines were displayed for self-selection, subject to compliance
with guidance developed by the Society. Since then an increasing number
of pharmacies have expressed an interest in making pharmacy medicines
available for self-selection.
The Society says that a range of views have been expressed about the
display of P medicines. Some people believe that self-selection will
lead to an increase in inappropriate use and deliberate misuse of P medicines.
Others believe that it will increase awareness of the range of P medicines
and will enable the public to have greater involvement in their health
care. To assess the views of the profession and the public, the Society’s
consultation is seeking answers to six specific questions (see Panel
below). The responses will be used to develop guidance that reflects
respondents’ views.
Consultation questions
• Should there be professional restrictions on the way P medicines
are displayed and made accessible to the public?
• If yes, is a complete ban on self-selection of P medicines
appropriate?
• Alternatively, should certain types of P medicine be excluded
from self-selection?
• If P medicines are available for self-selection, what professional
restrictions should exist?
• Instead of making full packs accessible by self-selection,
are there other options? |
Lynsey
Balmer, the Society’s head of professional ethics, says: “The
Society is consulting on a number of different issues at the moment,
but this important consultation has implications for both the profession
and the public. We encourage people to give us their views so that we
can develop guidelines that ensure the safe display of and access to
pharmacy medicines.” |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal