Classification of medicines

Question 1

What act regulates medicines (3)

Answer 1

1. The Human Medicines Regulations 2012
2. regulates the way medicines can be bought and sold.
3. It groups all medicines into three categories.

Question 2

What are General Sale list (GSL) medicines (5)

Answer 2

1. can be sold from retail outlets that can ‘close so as to exclude the public’
2. including local supermarkets, newsagents and garages, as well as from a pharmacy.
3. They can be made available for self-selection.
4. GSL medicines may not be as strong as other products, and the packs will contain a smaller number of tablets/capsules.
5. This does not mean that they are completely safe for everyone to use as they may be unsuitable for certain people taking other medicines or with medical conditions.

Question 3

What are Pharmacy (P) medicines (6)

Answer 3

1. can only be sold under the supervision of a pharmacist and are marked with a P on the packaging.
2. P medicines must not be accessible to the public by self-selection.
3. However, to raise awareness of some P products there may be signage/dummy packaging about them directing the customer to ask the pharmacist.
4. Selling these medicines requires further questioning of the customer, and often requires referral to the pharmacist.
5. This is because they may be more liable for misuse, there may be more in a pack, or they have restrictions on who can use them, and/or how they should be used.
6. It is important with both GSL and P medicines that you do not sell two products containing the same active ingredient to the same person, without questioning them and referring to the pharmacist if necessary.

Question 4

What are Prescription Only Medicines (POM) (4)

Answer 4

1. can only be supplied against a prescription.
2. They will be kept in the dispensary and can be identified by the letters POM on the pack.
3. You must not take any medicines out of the dispensary.
4. The pack size also determines whether a product is a GSL, P or POM medicine.

Question 5

How does pack size affect medication classification (4)

Answer 5

1. A pack of up to 16 paracetamol tablets or capsules is classed as GSL.
2. A pack of up to 32 paracetamol tablets or capsules is classed as a P medicine.
3. A pack of 100 paracetamol tablets is classed as a POM medicine.
4. The maximum number of paracetamol tablets or capsules you can sell in a pharmacy is 100 tablets, but you should always refer requests for large quantities to your pharmacist.