§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that patients are provided with printed information on medicines dispensed to them. [132492]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThere is a legal obligation on dispensing doctors and pharmacists to supply appropriate information to patients when dispensing medicines in the form of patient information leaflets or information included on the packaging itself. Since 1 January 1999, all licensed medicines in the United Kingdom have approved leaflets and labels and there has been a range of developments in recent years which have helped to ensure patients receive appropriate information. These include guidance for hospitals on dispensing medicines in original packs at the outset of a patient's stay that will be sufficient for discharge.
Also, in August 2002, the Medicines Control Agency, which was the predecessor to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, and the Department issued joint guidance on how compliance with the requirement to include appropriate written information to patients may be achieved.