FrenchieGirl
Senior Moderator
07/05/2009
Swine flu: pharmacy to get special powers in pandemic
Pharmacists could get special powers to enable them to tackle swine flu should a pandemic be declared, C+D has learned.
UK-wide legislation changes to allow pharmacists to supply POMs without prescription were ?underway?, the Northern Ireland Executive?s health department confirmed this week.
And the RPSGB was waiting for final parliamentary approval on powers that would allow it to draft in ?suitably experienced? people to practise as pharmacists.
Pharmacy supply of POMs without prescription during flu pandemics was proposed in an MHRA consultation earlier this year. The plans will be passed into legislation, according to health officials in Northern Ireland, though there has yet to be a formal response to the consultation.
The MHRA said it was unable to comment while it was ?still considering the outcome?. The Department of Health in England was unable to comment as C+D went to press.
The RPSGB had asked all ?suitable? pharmacists on its non-practising register if they would be willing to practise should swine flu continue to spread, a spokesperson told C+D.
News of the emergency powers came as pharmacists in affected areas experienced mixed public reactions to swine flu. Some had been inundated with queries and requests for antivirals and hand washes, while others reported limited interest (see map, below).
As the number of confirmed cases in the UK crept towards 30, the DH appointed a national director for NHS flu resilience. Current NHS North East chief executive Ian Dalton took up the newly-created position. The Department has also sent all UK households a swine flu information leaflet.
Swine flu: pharmacy to get special powers in pandemic
Pharmacists could get special powers to enable them to tackle swine flu should a pandemic be declared, C+D has learned.
UK-wide legislation changes to allow pharmacists to supply POMs without prescription were ?underway?, the Northern Ireland Executive?s health department confirmed this week.
And the RPSGB was waiting for final parliamentary approval on powers that would allow it to draft in ?suitably experienced? people to practise as pharmacists.
Pharmacy supply of POMs without prescription during flu pandemics was proposed in an MHRA consultation earlier this year. The plans will be passed into legislation, according to health officials in Northern Ireland, though there has yet to be a formal response to the consultation.
The MHRA said it was unable to comment while it was ?still considering the outcome?. The Department of Health in England was unable to comment as C+D went to press.
The RPSGB had asked all ?suitable? pharmacists on its non-practising register if they would be willing to practise should swine flu continue to spread, a spokesperson told C+D.
News of the emergency powers came as pharmacists in affected areas experienced mixed public reactions to swine flu. Some had been inundated with queries and requests for antivirals and hand washes, while others reported limited interest (see map, below).
As the number of confirmed cases in the UK crept towards 30, the DH appointed a national director for NHS flu resilience. Current NHS North East chief executive Ian Dalton took up the newly-created position. The Department has also sent all UK households a swine flu information leaflet.