A prescription issued in an EEA member state or Switzerland can be dispensed in the UK if the prescriber is from a profession recognised by this guidance and is legally entitled to issue a prescription of that type in the country where it was issued.
If you are asked to dispense an EEA or Swiss prescription, you should:
Identify the prescriber
Ensure the prescription includes the prescriber’s name, professional qualifications, and contact details (including work address, email, and phone or fax number with the correct international prefix), as well as the country where the prescription was issued.
Check the prescribing-approved countries and professions list (Confirm the following)
The prescription was issued in an approved country.
The prescriber is practicing in a profession recognised by the UK for that country.
Verify the prescriber
If necessary, contact the competent authority in the country where the prescription was issued to check the prescriber’s registration and whether they are authorised to issue that type of prescription.
Dispensing the prescription
You may dispense the prescription if it is from an approved country and signed by a qualified prescriber practicing in an approved profession.
Refuse to dispense if necessary
If the prescription is from a country or prescriber not on the approved list, you should not dispense it. Instead, use your professional judgment to assist the patient.
Additionally, you have the right to refuse to dispense a prescription if:
- It would not ordinarily be dispensed in the UK.
- There are doubts about its authenticity.
- There are concerns about the clinical appropriateness of the medication for the patient.
- It may pose any health or safety risks.
There is no change to the process for supplying prescription, only medicines in an emergency at the request of the patient. For more information, refer to the guidance on emergency supplies of prescriptions.
Emergency supplies are also allowed at the request of a prescriber who is practicing in a profession and country recognised by this guidance.
Prescription-only medical products
The rules regarding controlled drugs in the UK remain unchanged. You must not dispense a controlled drug based on an EEA or Swiss prescription. A controlled drug is defined as any product listed in schedules 1, 2, or 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 or schedules 1, 2, or 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.
You must also not dispense ‘specials’ (unlicensed medicines that are manufactured or procured specifically to meet the special clinical needs of an individual patient) based on an EEA or Swiss prescription.
If you are asked to dispense an EEA or Swiss prescription for a controlled drug listed in schedule 1 to 3 or a special, you should advise the patient about alternative treatments or refer them to local health services to obtain a UK prescription.