Pharmacists in England will be allowed to dispense 10% more or less than the prescribed amount in order to dispense medications in the original packs from January 2025.

This follows changes to the Human Medicines Regulations (HMRs) that have allowed original pack dispensing (OPD) for private prescriptions since October 2023.

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has noted that 'professional judgement should be exercised to assess the suitability of applying OPD +/- 10% dispensing', adding that 'it is not expected to be appropriate in all cases'.

'For example, if a patient is prescribed antibiotics or steroids and the supervising pharmacist considers that the patient should be supplied with the exact quantity prescribed to be able to follow the medication regimen, OPD +/- 10% dispensing should not be used,' the negotiator said.

And CPE clarified that while the supervising pharmacist may consider OPD from January, it will not be required - and may not be possible if IT system changes are not in place or if the pharmacy does not have the appropriate stock available.

Although it did say that IT system suppliers and the NHS Business Services Authority had started to prepare for these changes 'to align pricing and PMR [patient medication record] systems with OPD rules'.

CPE also noted that pharmacies could be reimbursed for OPD +/- 10% dispensing for schedule 5 controlled drugs, prescription only medications, pharmacy only medications, general sales items, as well as non-medicines including ACBS (Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances) products, food supplements, cosmetics, toiletries etc.

But it highlighted that pharmacies would not be reimbursed for OPD +/- 10% dispensing for schedule 1-4 controlled drugs or for unlicensed specials (Part VIIIB, Part VIIID and non-Tariff specials).

It also said that reimbursement for OPD +/- 10% dispensing would only apply to electronic prescriptions, and not to supplies in accordance with Serious Shortages Protocols or Patient Group Directions.

The changes have been finalised following amendments made last week (3 September 2024) to The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024.

At the same time, minister Stephen Kinnock also signed changes that will allow the central supply of pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine to community pharmacies from 1 October 2024, as is already done with Covid-19 vaccines and antivirals, the MMR vaccine and RSV vaccines.

This will mean pharmacies can obtain the vaccine from national stocks without needing to purchase it, and will receive zero or nominal reimbursement.

Also from 1 October 2024, changes intended to speed up the process of opening a new pharmacy will come into effect. This removes the requirement for references from referees nominated by the applicant, as part of the pharmacy owner's fitness information application.

'References were considered to be of limited value and obtaining them often resulted in delays to the whole application process. This change should make this part of the process less onerous for applicants and help to reduce delays with market entry applications,' CPE said.

'These changes apply to new and existing applications. However, with an existing application, if the ICB has relevant information that suggests a reference should be sought, it may do so,' the negotiator added.