A NEW law to regulate medicines in the Bailiwick is long overdue, according to Health and Social Services chief pharmacist Ed Freestone. He said the current law, The Poisons and Pharmacy Ordinance, 1970, was out of date.
It also only legislated for the regulation of medicines considered to be poisonous and since not all are, many are not controlled by the present legislation.
The philosophy of the new law changes the focus from the regulation of poisonous medicines to a framework for controlling manufacture, distribution and sale of medicines.
‘What we are trying to do with this new law is to create an environment where patient safety is paramount,’ said Mr Freestone.
‘We want to make sure that the quality of medicines and care the people of Guernsey receive is the best we can give.
‘The issue of who was looking after each aspect of the old law was also a bit vague and that has now been cleared up. It was written in such an archaic way.
‘All the little quirks have been taken out.’
A new law for such regulation was agreed by the States in September 2004 and, allowing for local variations, it is based on the UK’s Medicines Act 1968 and addresses both human and veterinary medicines.
The areas the new law will regulate include labelling, prescribing, inspection, superintendent pharmacists, licensing, promotion and the creation of a medicines committee.
The committee will consist of the director of public health, the chief pharmacist, the States vet, a professional head of nursing and a lay member.
It will advise Health on all matters relating to medicines.
The legislation will provide a regulatory environment which will be familiar to those trained in the UK or those who have undertaken UK approved courses.
That means it will be an easier transition for those healthcare professionals coming to the island to work.
‘We now won’t have to explain to them about how their roles in Guernsey are different and we won’t have to retrain them.
‘For a lot of nurses and other staff who were here only for a couple of years in the past, this old law was a burden for them.
‘It makes us more efficient.’
Consultation on the original proposals was undertaken in 2004 and included the chief pharmacist visiting Sark and joining a meeting of the medical committee attended by doctors, the island pharmacist and others.
The legislation has been drafted to reflect the requirements of Sark and Alderney.
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