VET Flashcards
Supply of medicines to animals
Pharmacists are authorised to supply veterinary medicines and human medicines for use in animals when there is a valid prescription.
What is a VMP?
Any substance or combination of substances presented as having properties for treating or preventing disease in animals.
Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
- Defines who can diagnose and treat animals.
- Defines veterinary terms.
Regulatory bodies
- Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
- Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA).
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
- Statutory regulator for UK veterinary profession.
- Maintains a register of veterinary surgeons eligible to practice in the UK..
Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA)
Independent regulatory body that:
- Sets standards for veterinary education.
- Regulates professional conduct.
- Keeps register of SQP
SQP
- Professionally qualified animal medicine advisors who are entitled to prescribe and/or supply certain veterinary medicines in the UK.
- Not just vets, e.g. pet shops
Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)
Promotes and protects animal health, public health and the environment, by assuring the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines.
Veterinary Product Committee (VPC)
Provides advice on:
- Any aspect of veterinary medicinal products and specified feed additives.
- Specific issues relating to marketing authorisations.
- Considers reports of suspected adverse reactions to veterinary medicines.
Categories of Veterinary Medicines
- POM-V
- POM-VPS
- NFS-VPS
- AVM-GSL
- SAES (small animal exemption scheme)
- Unauthorised Veterinary medicine.
POM-V
Prescription only medicines.
Can be prescribed by:
- Veterinary surgeon
Can be supplied by:
- Veterinary surgeon
- Pharmacist
Written prescription is required.
POM-VPS
Prescription only medicines Can be prescribed and supplied by:
- Veterinary surgeon
- Pharmacist
- Suitably qualified person
Oral or written prescription.
- Written prescription is required if the supplier is not the prescriber.
NFA-VPS
Medicines for non-food animals.
Can be supplied by:
- Veterinary surgeon
- Pharamcist
- Suitably qualified person
Written prescription is not required.
These medicines should not be accesible by the general public in a pharmacy.
AVM-GSL
- Can be supplied by any retailer without any restrictions, supervision or advice.
- e.g. pet shops, supermarkets and online.
SAES
- Small, non-food producing animals (e.g. cage birds, aquarium animals, small rodents).
- No MA
- Not assessed for safety, quality of efficacy but can still be marketed legally and administered according to instructions on the label.
Unauthorised veterinary medicine
Unlicensed medicine.
Not eligible for exemption through the SAES.
Can only be prescribed under the cascade.
Can be prescribed by:
- Veterinary surgeon
Includes any human medicine used for animals.
What is the veterinary cascade?
Exemption within the VMR where if a licensed veterinary product is not available, other medicines, in a strict order of preference, can be considered.
1st step of the cascade
Supply a veterinary medicine with a GB or UK wide marketing authorisation for the species and condition indicated.
2nd step of the cascade
A veterinary medicine with a Northern Island (NI) marketing authorisation for the species and condition indicated can be supplied.
3rd step of the cascade
A GB, NI or UK-wide veterinary medicine licensed for another species or different condition can be considered.
4th step of the cascade
- A GB, NI or UK-wide licensed human medicine OR
- A veterinary medicine authorised outside the UK can be considered.
5th step of the cascade
An extemporaneous or a specially manufactured medicine can be considered.
Label requirements
- Name of the prescribing veterinary surgeon
- Name and address of the animal owner
- Name and address of the pharmacy
- Species of the animal
- Date
- Expiry date of the product
- Drug name and strength
- Dose/administration
- Warnings/storage instructions
- Any applicable withdrawal period (i.e. the time between when an animal receives a medicine and when it can safely be used for food).
- ‘For animal treatment only’
- ‘Keep out of reach of children’.
Record keeping
- Date. Date on Rx
- Name and address of the prescriber + recipient
- Name of drug (strength and form).
- Quantity
Good practice (for under cascade)
- BN
- Directions.
- Species and identity of animal.
- Reference number and price.
Wholesale of veterinary medicines
Manufacturer of veterinary medicines or a holder of a wholesale dealer’s authorisation (WDA) may routinely supply authorised retailers with veterinary medicines.
Legal prescription requirements for POM-V and POM-VPS medicines
Prescribers details:
- Name
- Address
- Telephone number
- Qualification and signature of the prescriber.
Name and address of owner
Name and species of animal
Animals address
Date
Drug details:
- Name
- Quantity
- Dose
- Administration instructions
- Necessary warnings and withdrawal period (where relevant).
‘Prescribed under the cascade’.
- Where relevant
Number of times it can be repeated.
- Where relevant
How long are veterinary prescriptions valid for?
- 6 months or shorter if indicated by the prescriber.
- For repeatable prescriptions, all supplies must be made within 6 months or shorter (if indicated by the prescriber).
What must be present on a veterinary prescription for CDs?
- ‘Prescribed for the treatment of an animal or herd under my care’.
- RCVS registration number of the prescriber.
Are standardised forms required for veterinary prescriptions?
No
