Category: Pharmacist and technician responsibilities

Understand the legal and professional obligations of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in delivering safe, ethical practice.

Medicines licensing Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines Pharmacist and technician responsibilities Record-keeping requirements Safe dispensing practices

Pharmacy medicines (P)

Pharmacy medicines (P medicines) are medicinal products that may be sold or supplied only from registered pharmacy premises and only under the supervision of a pharmacist.

The legal classification, supply restrictions and supervision requirements for P medicines are set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

Under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, a pharmacy medicine is a medicinal product that:

Controlled drugs Pharmacist and technician responsibilities Pharmacy premises standards

Safe Custody of Controlled Drugs

The Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973 set legal standards for how certain Controlled Drugs (CDs) must be stored to prevent unauthorised access. This article outlines what is required by law, what is best practice, and how to manage CD storage in pharmacies, hospitals, and secure environments.

Safe custody refers to the physical security of CDs. Certain CDs must be stored in a locked safe, cabinet, or room that complies with security standards designed to prevent unauthorised access.

The requirement applies to: