SALE OF MEDICINES – THE LAW AND THREE SIXTY OPTICAL LTD
Three Sixty Optical Ltd are a licensed wholesaler of medicines and are obliged to selectively restrict the sale of ‘POM’ and ‘P’ medicinal products to healthcare professionals, based on practitioner qualifications, and following a legally defined schedule. The full schedule may be viewed here and the following is a brief overview of how it is applied.
We follow the guidance set out in ‘Rules & Guidance for Pharmaceutical Distributors 2022’, which is published on behalf of the MHRA, and is designed to clarify the complex legislation.
The following is guidance from the publication:
Medicines are normally obtained on production of a prescription, at a pharmacy or surgery dispensary where a pharmacist or doctor has oversight of the supply. However, the legislation recognises that certain healthcare professionals require some ‘POM’ and ‘P’ products for use within their practice, during the course of their daily work. They have made provision for this by listing ‘exemptions’ from the legislation, to enable medical professionals other than doctors and pharmacists to purchase these products. It is not intended to enable practitioners to purchase medicines for distribution to patients and is very specific regarding what each category of practitioner may buy. The exemptions list (known as ‘Schedule 17’) may be viewed here.
It is worth noting that the legislation makes no difference between ‘POM’ and ‘P’ class medicines, as noted at the end of the second quoted paragraph:
The following is guidance from the publication:
‘Under medicine legislation, the general rule is that prescription-only medicines may only be sold or supplied on a retail basis against a prescription on registered pharmacy premises by or under the supervision of a pharmacist. There are exemptions from the restrictions for certain persons in respect of specific medicines that are contained in Schedule 17 to the Human Medicines Regulation 2012. The Regulations allow people who have exemptions to be sold the prescription only medicines relevant to their particular exemption on a wholesale basis [i.e. not for resale, or supply to a patient – ed.]
Similarly, the general rule for pharmacy medicines is that they may only be sold or supplied by or under the supervision of a pharmacist on registered pharmacy premises. Again, there are exemptions from these restrictions for certain persons in respect of specific medicines contained in Schedule 17 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and the Regulations allow for sale of the P medicines on the same basis as for POMs’
Similarly, the general rule for pharmacy medicines is that they may only be sold or supplied by or under the supervision of a pharmacist on registered pharmacy premises. Again, there are exemptions from these restrictions for certain persons in respect of specific medicines contained in Schedule 17 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and the Regulations allow for sale of the P medicines on the same basis as for POMs’
Medicines are normally obtained on production of a prescription, at a pharmacy or surgery dispensary where a pharmacist or doctor has oversight of the supply. However, the legislation recognises that certain healthcare professionals require some ‘POM’ and ‘P’ products for use within their practice, during the course of their daily work. They have made provision for this by listing ‘exemptions’ from the legislation, to enable medical professionals other than doctors and pharmacists to purchase these products. It is not intended to enable practitioners to purchase medicines for distribution to patients and is very specific regarding what each category of practitioner may buy. The exemptions list (known as ‘Schedule 17’) may be viewed here.
It is worth noting that the legislation makes no difference between ‘POM’ and ‘P’ class medicines, as noted at the end of the second quoted paragraph:
‘…the Regulations allow for sale of the P medicines on the same basis as for POMs’.
Three Sixty Optical Ltd operates a set of buying lists that are allocated to customers based on the professional qualification details that have been provided for each customer account. If you have a number of practitioners within your organisation, it is worth checking to see who best to register as the named practitioner. For example, an optician with the ‘Additional Supply’ specialty may buy additional products to an optician without this qualification.
Please note: Our website will only display products that you are authorised to purchase.
Three Sixty Optical Ltd is committed to maintaining complete integrity regarding our legislative responsibilities.
Thank you for supporting us in this.
Please note: Our website will only display products that you are authorised to purchase.
Three Sixty Optical Ltd is committed to maintaining complete integrity regarding our legislative responsibilities.
Thank you for supporting us in this.