NPA guidance on Human Medicines Regulations 2012

10 August 2012

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) is encouraging members to make sure their current practice is permissible within the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, which are expected come into force on August 14.

The regulations include a repeal of section 10 (7) of the Medicines Act which previously allowed pharmacies to wholesale medicines in some circumstances without a wholesale dealer’s licence (WDL).

‘Pharmacists need to make sure that when these changes come into play, they are operating within the new regulations. The repeal of section 10 (7) means that pharmacies trading commercially will need a wholesaler dealer license – trading without this will risk criminal prosecution. Small scale supplies from one pharmacy to another to meet individual patient needs will still be permitted, as will supplies to other healthcare providers,’ advises Gareth Jones, Public Affairs Manager, NPA.

The law also includes some new policy changes including:

- Removing statutory warnings for over-the-counter products other than paracetamol

- Updating the process by which independent hospitals, clinics and agencies are able to continue using patient group directions

- Removing the requirement for a pharmacist to contact the prescriber before making changes to a prescription relating to the name of the product or its common name, directions for use of the product, or precautions relating to the product.