Royal Pharmaceutical Society
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published a call for evidence on the facilitated self-selection of Pharmacy (P) medicines, following changes made by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) that enable more pharmacies to adopt the practice.
In a statement published on 12 July 2024, the RPS said it would like to hear “evidence of the benefits and harms of a facilitated self-selection model for P medicines in relation to patient care, and any evidence gaps with an explanation of areas where further research is required”.
The Society published the call after a meeting of its national pharmacy boards in June 2024, in which it discussed its current stance on the practice — “Pharmacy medicines must not be accessible to the public by self-selection” — as laid out in ‘Medicines, Ethics and Practice‘, published in July 2023.
In a statement issued on 20 June 2024, the RPS said: “We understand that hundreds of pharmacies, from large multiples to small independents, have been approved by the regulator to enable patients to self-select certain P medicines.
“In each case, the sale of the P medicine is still required to take place within registered premises and under the supervision of a pharmacist.”
However, it added: “[The RPS] was deeply disappointed to learn of this monumental change in practice without wider communication from the regulator to the profession, patients and the public.”
Roz Gittins, chief pharmacy officer at the GPhC, said in a statement on 20 June 2024: “Our long-standing position on this has been that self-selection of P medicines would not be compatible with our regulatory standards without key safeguards being in place.
“The GPhC recognises that in order to meet patient needs, those providing pharmacy services may need to innovate and develop new ways of working,” she added.
“As the regulator, we don’t seek to stifle innovation, but to make sure that registered pharmacies meet our standards, as well as any relevant legal requirements, whilst maintaining the safety of their services.”
In the RPS statement, Paul Bennett, chief executive of the RPS, said that the GPhC no longer prohibit facilitated self-selection of P medicines, owing to “changes brought by the GPhC focusing on an outcomes approach to standards”.
“As a result, there are pharmacies that are now adopting a more flexible interpretation to providing this group of medicines,” he said.
“The evidence base gathered through this exercise will inform a report by RPS Science and Research that enable us to consider our current position. As the professional body, we are committed to patient safety and the safe development of innovative practice to meet the needs of patients now and for the future.”
The call for evidence will be open until 6 September 2024 and can be accessed here.
