UK MHRA proposes safeguard for medicines supplies for patients

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has proposed repeal of the part of the Medicines Act which permits trading between pharmacies without the need for a wholesalers licence.

The Medicines Act 1968 contains an exemption which allows pharmacies in the UK to trade pharmaceutical products without the requirement to hold a wholesale dealers' licence. This law is incompatible with more recent European Union legislation and trading in future will need to be only where it meets the needs of public health, is in small quantities, is infrequent, and is not for profit.

There is a great deal of trading between pharmacies at present, particularly within the National Health Service, and the MHRA says it would not wish to impose the full licensing arrangements upon a public service, as this would be disproportionate. Government intervention is necessary for the repeal of Section 10(7), but also to provide a regime under which essential supplies of medicines continue to reach patients in need.