The current body of UK medicines legislation comprises the Medicines Act 1968 and approximately 80 statutory instruments, many of which have been amended numerous times. The Society aims to influence the MHRA consolidation and review project to ensure that the legislative framework for medicines is comprehensive, comprehensible and fit for current and future practise. We are working to ensure that the Government use this review as an opportunity to decriminalize single dispensing errors.

This year we have responded to consultations that aim to consolidate legislation into one set of regulations aiming to simplify and clarify the way provisions are drafted to the benefit of pharmacists and the public.

This year we will form a specially constituted task and finish group which will act as a think tank to identify issues that the MHRA review could address, formulate policy proposals for the national pharmacy boards to consider and inform our response to the formal consultation.

We will then engage with the MHRA directly and through the public and written consultation ensure that the views of our members are incorporated. It will also present an opportunity for us to talk to members about how or if prescribing by pharmacists and the structural roles of pharmacists could be improved through legislative change.