Drugs, medicines and supplements

According to the medicines act (1968) the law governs the manufacture and supply of medicine. There are three categories:

Prescription Only drugs can be sold by a pharmacist if prescribed by a doctor.

Pharmacy medicines may be sold by a pharmacist without prescription.

General sales list medicines may be sold without a prescription in any shop.

Possession of Prescription Only medicines without a prescription is a serious offence.

Here is a link to the act:

http://opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1968/cukpga_19680067_en_1

To allow medicines that fall onto the first two categories to be offered or requested on a Freegle list would be in breach of this law.

The electronic medicine compendium has a database of medicines and includes whether they are:

POM = Prescription only medicine

P = Pharmacy

GLS = General Sales List

(this information can be found in the bottom right hand corner for any given medicine)

http://emc.medicines.org.uk/browsedocuments.aspx

You can send unopened medication of certain types via the following to third world countries see:

http://www.i-volunteer.org.uk/helpfromhome/opportunities/recycle-medicines/

The charity InterCare takes unused/returned medicines and sends them to Africa:

www.intercare.org.uk/


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