1826
PROPOSED RECLASSIFICATION OF PRODUCTS CONTAINING PSEUDOEPHEDRINE
AND EPHEDRINE 3:7:07
Dr
Dr
Dr
*4
That
this House expresses its concern about the Medicines and
Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) proposal to
reclassify products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as
prescription-only medicines; notes that their reclassification
would reduce patient access to a well-used and trusted range of
decongestants; further notes that the majorty of healthcare and
patient bodies and charities that responded to the recent joint
inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Primary Care and Public
Health Group and the All Party Parliamentary Drugs Misuse Group
into the MHRA's proposals opposed the proposed reclassification;
is aware that there is little evidence to support the MHRA's
assertion that ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are being used in
the UK for the manufacture of methylamphetamine; further notes
that the controls in place at present in the UK are no less
rigorous than those in any of the countries that have an
acknowledged methylamphetamine problem; believes that community
pharmacists have the necessary skills and training to ensure that
products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are dispensed
safety and appropriately as over the counter medicines; and calls
on the MHRA and the Department of Health to ensure that products
containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine continue to remain
available to patients over the counter.
