Pharmacists 'may be given off-label prescription rights'
Friday 7th August 2009
In a new development, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has announced that it is to allow pharmacists to prescribe off-label medication.
The new regulations will also apply to nurses, who, along with pharmacists, will be given the same prescription power as doctors.
Pharmacy experts have responded to the news with mixed feelings, Pulse reports.
Dr Bill Beeby, chair of the General Practitioners Committee's clinical and prescribing subcommittee, said the new rules may help to enhance palliative care.
On the other hand, Dr Peter Fellow, a colleague of Dr Beeby on the committee, said pharmacists and nurses should only be able to prescribe medication that falls into their remit.
He said: "Medical knowledge and proper medical indemnity to protect the patient is essential for relatively safe use of unlicensed products.
"Some unlicensed medicines can be dangerous - Chinese herbal remedies can cause liver damage."
The MRHA is a government agency, which presides over the operation and safety of medicines and medical equipment.
It aims to make information available to the public and invites contributions from people who have encountered problems within the medical sphere.
Written by Angela Newbury
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