Written question asked by Oliver Letwin (Conservative) on Monday, 22 June 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 June 2009. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Monday, 29 June 2009 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Pharmacy: Crime

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward legislative proposals to decriminalise dispensing errors by pharmacists under the Medicines Act 1968.

Answer: The Government recognise concerns that specific provisions contained in the 1968 Medicines Act may be used to prosecute pharmacists who make a dispensing error.A full review of the Medicines Act is already under way by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This will include consideration of changes that may be made to the law to ensure that it provides the necessary safeguards for the public while being proportionate as to how instances of clinical error are dealt with. The MHRA is working closely with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and other stakeholders on the Medicines Act review.

Secondary information