HC Deb 11 January 1994 vol 235 c118W
Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to extend the availability of over-the-counter medicines.

Dr. Mawhinney

We are continuing to extend the range of medicines which may be supplied without prescription where this can be done safely. In January 1993, we introduced a new timetable to provide for reclassification within 12 months and an order—SI 1993 No. 3256—which will allow a number of medicines previously restricted to prescription control to be supplied as pharmacy medicines, was laid on 31 December 1993 and is due to come into effect on 21 January. From July 1994, we shall be increasing the opportunities for reclassifying medicines by making two orders a year.