The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has called for evidence on the 'benefits and harms' of a 'facilitated self-selection model' for Pharmacy (P) medicines.

Respondents have also been asked to suggest areas where further research is required.

The RPS wants to hear from a wide range of pharmacists and pharmacy team members, patient representative bodies, employers, academics, thinktanks, pharmacy representative bodies, regulators and other stakeholders and researchers, it said.

Responses will inform a report by RPS Science and Research.

The RPS is considering whether to maintain its current position that that 'Pharmacy medicines must not be accessible to the public by self-selection'.

This follows confirmation from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) that it no longer prohibits facilitated self-selection of P medicines.

'As a result, there are pharmacies that are now adopting a more flexible interpretation to providing this group of medicines,' RPS chief executive Paul Bennett said.

'As the professional body, we are committed to patient safety and the safe development of innovative practice to meet the needs of patients now and for the future,' he added.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has also recently launched a survey of its members on the issue.

Roz Gittins, chief pharmacy officer at the GPhC, has previously emphasised the regulator’s ‘long-standing position’ that self-selection of P medicines must have 'key safeguards' in place.

'This includes ensuring continued compliance with the current legal requirement for pharmacist supervision, and assurance that any arrangements put in place secure patient and public safety,’ she said.