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Regulatory Changes currently under consultation. Richard Bateman Quality Assurance Specialist Pharmacist. Scope. Consolidation and review of UK medicines legislation (MLX 375) Falsified Medicines Directive (2011/62EU) MHRA Review of Unlicensed Medicines
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Regulatory Changes currently under consultation Richard Bateman Quality Assurance Specialist Pharmacist
Scope Consolidation and review of UK medicines legislation (MLX 375) Falsified Medicines Directive (2011/62EU) MHRA Review of Unlicensed Medicines NHSPQAC “Guidance on the licensing requirements of prepacking and overlabelling operations”
MLX 375 Timescales Legal Powers The consolidation – key points Government and NHS Reform Consolidation Patient Group Directions Optimisation of medicines Keeping up to date Summary
Timescales • Consolidation and review of UK medicines legislation Public consultation MLX 375 responses by 17 January 2012 • Spring 2012 consolidated regulations (Human Medicines Regulations) before Parliament • July 2012 come into force • Expected shortly related consultation (MLX 374) on pharmacovigilance requirements European Directive 2010/84/EU • Directive implemented July 2012 • European Directive 2011/62/EU on falsified medicines implementation by 2 January 2013
Legal Powers • ‘Consolidated regulations will primarily implement Directive 2001/83/EC • Continue to rely on Medicines Act 1968 for powers that fall outside of European obligations
The consolidation – key points from MLX 375 Will replace • About 200 statutory instruments • Much of the Medicines Act 1968 Will remove • Much obsolete law Will result in • Shorter simplified law easier to understand and apply Will reduce • Net burdens for users • Save time and costs • Different interpretations of the law
Government & NHS Reform • A ‘priority to minimise regulatory burdens in order to boost enterprise and drive growth’ – ‘One in, One out’ • ‘The consolidation is not part of proposed NHS reforms, but we will aim to ensure that the consolidated regulations reflect any changes to the NHS legislation as necessary’ • To include changes to Patient Group Directions
Consolidation • To replace all UK legislation relating primarily to medicinal products for human use (with some exceptions)
Scope of the consolidation (1) IN – Pharmacy includes: • Medicines Act 1968 • Part III Medicines Act 1968 - dealing in medicinal products, classification) • Large parts repealed • (But Act stays) • Prescription Only Medicines (human Use) Order 1997 (SI 1997/1830) – (with exceptions Sch. 1 POMs status for medicines supplied without a MA) • Enforcement functions of the GPhC (sections 108 and 109 Medicines Act 1968 (with exceptions) • Pharmacy qualifications for QPs in relation to a manufacturers' licence
Scope of the consolidation (2) OUT (or coming later!) • Section 10 is not consolidated and will be retained in the Medicines Act 1968 amended to refer to the consolidated regulations • Exception – subsection (7) to be repealed • Areas of MHRA regulation no covered – medical devices, blood, GLP, veterinary medicinal products • MHRA fees • Medicines (Administration of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 1978 • Certain Prohibition orders (e.g. Chloroform, Kava-kava)
Scope of the consolidation (3) • Clinical trials • Ongoing negotiations in Europe • Directive requiring substantial changes to the regulation of clinical trials • Chancellor to review UK implementation of the CTD to ‘reduce perceived gold plating and to increase proportionality of the system’
Scope of the consolidation (4) • Removal of the Section 10(7) Medicines Act 1968 exemption for pharmacy wholesale dealing • Exemption permits pharmacists to trade in small quantities of medicines without WDL • Not compatible with EU law • Pharmacists requiring to trade commercially will require WDL • WDL not required if medicines provided to healthcare professionals and others to pass on to their patients • Pharmacists allowed to supply other pharmacists with small quantities without WDL on occasional and not for profit basis and to meet individual needs of patients • Considering placing certain new obligations on wholesale dealers and RPs . ‘If we were to decide’ included in consolidated regulations 2012 • MHRA developing advice for pharmacy on impact of these changes on current practice (see impact assessment) with ‘duty to review clause’.
Scope of the consolidation (5) • Amendment of section 64 (Protection of purchasers of medicinal products) of the Medicines Act 1968 to ensure a proportionate regulatory approach to dispensing errors • MHRA do not have the powers under EC Act 1972 • Section 64 to remain in force at present • Improvements made by way of guidance • Intention more proportionate regulatory approach • Way forward to be discussed with interested parties Autumn 2011
Also included in consolidating the law (1) • Sections 9 to 12 (NOT section 10) removed • ‘we think that practitioners will be able to continue to conduct professional activities …) • Therapeutic rather than commercial context and not industrially produced • ‘MHRA will issue guidance (Note term ‘prepared’ replaced with ‘manufactured’)
Also included in consolidating the law (2) • Offence provisions • Civil sanctions to address breaches of advertising and borderline requirements • Due diligence defence • Sch.1 Medicines for Human Use (MAs, etc) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994/3144) • Permits supply of unlicensed medicines to a person for administration during the course of their business to a patient under their care • Clarified (defines authorised healthcare professionals)! • Removal of the requirement for fluted bottles
Also included in consolidating the law (3) • Policy changes (6 sections in MLX) • ‘Legislation currently requires MA holders to include ‘statutory warnings’ on labelling, in PILs for certain over the counter medicines’ • Propose to remove them and replace with product-specific or class warnings in MA • Exception for paracetamol?
Also included in consolidating the law (4) • Extension of existing exemptions • Sale of supply of medicines to organisations concerned with research - extend to other organisations • Increasing the 2ml ampoule size limit for water for injection – used by drug treatment services • Removal of restriction on parenteral administration of adrenaline (1 in 1000) • Additions to medicines that can be administered by registered ambulance paramedics on their on initiative – addition IV Paracetamol, Ondansetron
Also included in consolidating the law (6) • New exemptions • Water for injection • Currently classified as a POM • Obtain without a prescription for other purposes not parenteral administration • Administration of Adrenaline and Amiodarone • By holders of Resuscitation Council (UK) Advanced Life Support certificate in cardiac arrest
Patient Group Directions (1) • Duplication of effort • Raise awareness of the PGD website hosted by NeLM • Retain general structure and requirements in their current form • Will make minor changes • Enabling an NHS body to supply in accordance with written directions by an independence nurse, pharmacist or optometrist independence prescriber • Reflecting changes in the Care Quality Commission registration process • New provision • Allowing dental practices dental clinics registered with the CQC to sell, supply or administer medicines under PGDs
Optimisation of medicines use • ‘In the exercise of professional skill and judgement they believe it is appropriate to do so a pharmacist may make changes to a prescription relating to a) name of the product or common name; b) directions for use ; precautions relating to the use of the product.’ • Only if the pharmacist cannot contact the prescriber • Commonly interpreted as optimising the use of the medicine eg dose, duration • Proposal to remove above (not to interfere with clinical reason for prescribing)
Keeping the consolidated regulations up to date • Amendments to UK’s medicine legislation will continue as will development of EC law • Proposal to re-make the consolidated regulations every few years • MHRA to undertake a ‘Regulatory Excellence’ programme • To focus on lifting the burdens on business • Feedback to the ‘Red tape Challenge’ • Informal consolidated version of regulations each time amended on website (not legal)
Falsified Medicines Directive 2011/62 EU • Needs to be enacted by 2/1/13 • No consultation yet. • Pre consultation questionnaire. Closing date 3/2/12. V short turnaround – may still make comments. • Looking at potential economice impact assessment
Falsified Medicines Directive 2011/62 EU • Amends 2001/83EC • Brokering activities – formal controls • WDL – need for supply to 3rd country • Import notification for centrally authorised products • WD to verify products received are not falsified
Falsified Medicines Directive 2011/62 EU • Safety features – to be defined • Not all to require – POM? • Tamper evident seal and unique pack identifier – bar codes, RFID? • APIs – additional controls – audit, GMP, GDP, registration • If safety features are removed ? Need to replace with equivalent?
Review of Unlicensed Medicines • Started 2007 – concept paper, interim report, consultation • Late 2010 – March 2011 – “update in light of coalitions regulatory agenda” • March 2011 onwards ????????
RUM – what was not changed from consultation • Quality and manufacturing standards applying to Specials • Strengthen pharmacovigilance • Advertising
RUM – changes proposed after consultation • Patient Information – healthcare professionals judgement • Notification system for both domestic manufacture and imports • Notification – safety concerns / need • Labelling – English (NB NHSPQAC guidance) • Regulatory Impact?
NHSPQAC Guidance • “Guidance on the licensing requirements of prepacking and overlabelling operations” • To be published shortly • Clarification of existing position regarding these activities within the NHS Trusts • Should be referred to when reviewing an assembly activity to decide whether the activity requires an MHRA license or can be carried out under S10