Unlicensed Medicines (“Specials”) and Foreign Prescriptions: What Is Allowed in the UK?

Pharmacist and technician responsibilities Prescription requirements
Contents hide
1 What Are “Specials”?
2 When Can Specials Be Supplied?
3 Can You Dispense a Special on a European Prescription?
3.1 ❌ No
3.2 Why Not?
4 Can You Dispense a Special on a UK Prescription?
4.1 ✅ Yes
5 Comparison of Scenarios
6 What Should Pharmacists Do in Practice?
6.1 A European prescription for a special:
6.2 General approach:
7 Key Legal Takeaways

Unlicensed medicines—commonly referred to as “specials”—are subject to strict legal controls in the UK. While prescriptions from certain European countries are recognised under UK law, this does not extend to unlicensed medicines. This article explains when specials can be supplied, and why foreign prescriptions cannot be used for these medicines. What Are “Specials”? “Specials” are…

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