Key Summary
- UK government launches a call for evidence on private (non-NHS) prescribing routes
- Feedback sought on prescriptions from EU/EEA prescribers, UK private prescribers, and private PGDs
- Aim: ensure safe, legal, high-quality access to medicines; consultation closes 4 November
The UK government is seeking feedback from individuals and organisations to study how its system operates in relation to patient access to medicines through private (non-NHS) routes.
The feedback has been initiated by health secretary, Wes Streeting, and this is a request for ideas and evidence in relation to how the current systems are operating, and for suggestions as to how it might be improved.
The government is seeking proof for prescriptions written by registered prescribers from the EU area including its member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and Switzerland dispensed in the UK.
It also applies to private (non-NHS) UK prescribers, and prescription-only medications given through other legal routes such as patient group directions (PGDs) which are out of the NHS (private PGDs’).
Though these routes offer convenience, flexibility and choice to people while accessing an increasing range of medicines, the government wants to ensure that safety or quality of care is not compromised.
This check on the system’s credibility also ensures the patients receive treatments from proper healthcare professionals via legal routes.
The government is seeking feedback from professionals, regulators, academics, providers, employers and stakeholder organisations in the field of health and social care for the feedbacks.
The call for evidence closes on November 4 and any action based on the feedback will have UK-wide implications.
This call for evidence does not consider NHS prescribing, which has in place a range of checks and balances to promote access and maintain safety.
