Regulatory changes giving pharmacists flexibility to dispense medicines in their original packaging will come into force for private prescriptions in the autumn, the Department of Health and Social Care has indicated.

In draft OPD regulations published this week, the DHSC said the changes – which allow pharmacists to dispense up to 10 per cent more or less of a prescribed quantity to avoid having to split medicine packs – will come into force for private prescriptions “as soon as the Human Medicines Amendment Regulations come into force in the autumn,” according to a Community Pharmacy England briefing.

For NHS prescriptions, the regulations will be effective from when the pharmaceutical terms of service regulations applies the OPD amendments expressly, said CPE.

Meanwhile, a new requirement for sodium valproate products to always be dispensed in their original pack (unless a risk assessment indicates alternative packaging is necessary) will come into force alongside the private prescription regulations in the autumn.

“These regulations are in draft and therefore the regulations are not currently in force and may change before the come into force,” CPE advised.