(The Secretary of State for the
Home Department): Today, the Government is laying
the Misuse of Drugs (Coronavirus) (Amendments Relating to the
Supply of Controlled Drugs During a Pandemic etc.) Regulations
2020 (‘the 2020 Regulations’) in the House.
These regulations enable emergency supply of controlled drugs
during a pandemic and will come into force on 30 April 2020.
The instrument amends the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (‘the
2001 Regulations’) in order to allow pharmacists at a registered
pharmacy business to supply, in a pandemic situation, medicines
without a prescription, where the patient has been receiving a
Schedule 2, 3 or Part 1 Schedule 4 controlled drug as part of
on-going treatment, and to supply Schedule 2, 3 or Part 1
Schedule 4 controlled drugs under a Serious Shortage Protocol.
The amendments also allow pharmacists, in a pandemic situation,
to change the intervals on instalment prescriptions for Schedule
2 and 3 controlled drugs without the immediate need for a new
prescription from an authorised prescriber under the 2001
Regulations, with the approval of the prescriber or their
appointed representative.
The amendments are enabling and would only be used in limited
circumstances following an announcement by the Secretary of State
and under conditions specified by the health service in the
area(s) to which the announcement applies.
On 1 April 2020, I wrote to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of
Drugs (ACMD), to set out the proposed measures and to seek its
advice. The ACMD provided its advice on 7 April, and this is
available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/acmd-advice-on-covid-19-emergency-legislation-to-enable-supply-of-controlled-drugs
I have considered the ACMD advice carefully, consulted with the
Department of Health and Social Care, and agreed to all the
recommendations. Further explanation of the legislative changes
is set out in the Explanatory Memorandum attached to the 2020
Regulations.
