Medicines Act 1968

The Medicines Act 1968 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom.[1] It governs the control of medicines for human use and for veterinary use, which includes the manufacture and supply of medicines.

The Act defines three categories of medicine: prescription only medicines (POM),[2] which are available only from a pharmacist if prescribed by an appropriate practitioner; pharmacy medicines (P), available only from a pharmacist but without a prescription; and general sales list (GSL) medicines which may be bought from any shop without a prescription.

The Act controls supply of the drugs it covers, but does not define any offence of simple possession. Possession of a prescription only drug without a prescription is only an offence if the drug is also controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and possession is thus specified as an offence. Therefore, for example, possession of a prescription only antibiotic without a prescription is not an offence.

For description of the legal classification of medicines in the UK see the Royal Pharmaceutical Society web site, and the publication 'Medicines ethics and practice'.[3]

The Act was introduced following problems with the off-label use of thalidomide.[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ "Medicines Act 1968". www.Legislation.gov.uk. Her Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "The Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997". www.Legislation.gov.uk. Her Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  3. ↑ http://www.rpharms.com/mep/legal-classification-of-medicines.asp (subscription required)
  4. ↑ Conroy, S.; McIntyre, J.; Choonara;, I.; HULL, P. S. D. (1 March 1999). "Unlicensed and off label drug use in neonates Commentary". Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition. 80 (2): F142–F145. doi:10.1136/fn.80.2.F142.
  5. ↑ Royal Pharmaceutical Society (2011). "The evolution of pharmacy, Theme E, Level 3 Thalidomide and its aftermath" (PDF).

Further reading

  • The Textbook of Pharmaceutical Medicine, John P. Griffin.


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