In response to the outbreak of Covid-19, temporary amendments to the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 (as amended) and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (as amended) have been made by the Minister for Health. These temporary provisions are designed to ensure that patients can continue to access their ongoing treatment and ‘regular’ medicines during the ongoing emergency and to assist in easing the additional burdens on prescribers and pharmacists arising from the pandemic. These amendments will be referred to in this document as ‘Covid-19 Emergency Provisions’.

This guidance is for pharmacists and prescribers as well as other healthcare workers and pharmacy staff who need to familiarise themselves with recent changes in legislation in response to the Covid19 pandemic.