Whole-pack dispensing to be introduced from January 2025 following legislation change

Changes to original-pack dispensing (OPD) rules mean pharmacists will be able to dispense up to 10% more or less than the quantity prescribed for NHS prescriptions from 1 January 2025, following Parliamentary sign-off.

The changes — which will be introduced as part of the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 — will allow pharmacists to supply up to 10% more or less than the prescribed quantity of an NHS prescription, providing the medicine can be dispensed in its original pack and other prescription requirements are fulfilled.

The legislation was laid before Parliament on 3 September 2024 and follows an announcement made in March 2023 that the government would be changing the required legislation following a consultation.

In a statement announcing the change from January 2025, published on 6 September 2024, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) said: “Professional judgement should be exercised to assess the suitability of applying OPD +/- 10% dispensing, and it is not expected to be appropriate in all cases.”

“For example, if a patient is prescribed antibiotics or steroids and the supervising pharmacist considers that the patient should be supplied with the exact quantity prescribed to be able to follow the medication regimen, OPD +/- 10% dispensing should not be used.”

The statement added that the amendments do not mean supervising pharmacists must use them. “For example, IT system suppliers may not introduce the necessary changes to the pharmacy IT system until after 1 January 2025, or there may not be appropriate stock in the pharmacy.”

Products that will be reimbursed for OPD dispensing where up to 10% more or less is dispensed and claimed include prescription-only medicines (POMs), non-POMs and schedule 5 controlled drugs.

“OPD +/- 10% dispensing will not apply to supplies in accordance with serious shortages protocols or patient group directions. It may only be used for dispensing prescriptions,” CPE said.

“The NHS BSA [NHS Business Services Authority] and IT system suppliers are starting to prepare for these changes to align pricing and [patient medication record] systems with OPD rules,” it added.

Commenting on the forthcoming changes, Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: ‘’The changes to NHS regulations allowing pharmacists to use their professional judgement to facilitate the dispensing of medicines in original packs will support pharmacists in keeping patients safe when taking medicines.

“By dispensing medicines in their original packs, it will help pharmacies to ensure that patients receive all printed information on the safe and effective use of the product, through patient information leaflets and any associated warnings on the manufacturers original packaging.”

Gordon Hockey, director of legal at CPE, said: “The new OPD regulations are an important development. They will give pharmacy teams the discretion to make minor common-sense changes around the quantity dispensed for the benefit of patients, in appropriate cases.

As with all dispensing changes, CPE has been considering and discussing the impact of these changes on pharmacies with the [Department of Health and Social Care] and NHS England. This includes confirming adjustments to reimbursement mechanisms and supporting NHS BSA and IT system suppliers to prepare for the introduction of this change.”

• This article was amended on 11 September 2024 to clarify that OPD dispensing only applies to prescription-only medicines (POMs), non-POMs and schedule 5 controlled drugs