Pharmacy dispensing models and displaying prices on medicines

Update: Following responses to the consultation, we are exploring some of the issues raised with stakeholders – see letter to pharmacy stakeholders’ representative bodies for more information.

This consultation seeks views on proposed changes to medicines legislation. These changes are to:

• allow independent pharmacists to make use of ‘hub and spoke’ dispensing models – a ‘hub’ pharmacy dispenses medicines on a large scale, often by making use of automation, preparing and assembling the medicines for regular ‘spoke’ pharmacies that supply the medicines to the patient

• allow the price of medicines and a statement on how the costs of medicines are met to be published on dispensing labels should this be required for NHS medicines dispensed as part of the NHS pharmaceutical services

• clarify the current dispensing label requirements for monitored dosage systems and medicines supplied under patient group directions

• amend the pharmacists’ exemption in section 10 of the Medicines Act, regarding the preparation and assembly of medicines, following a judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union.