<p>Community pharmacists have an important role in ensuring that patient get the medicines they need. If a serious shortage protocol is in place they can dispense an alternative but only as prescribed in the protocol.</p><p>A protocol would increase the transparency of communication across the health system and reduce confusion amongst patients and prescribers as the protocol will give prescribers clarity about what will happen in the event a prescription only medicine is unavailable.</p><p>A protocol would support the quality of care delivered by the National Health Service. In particular, in a situation with multiple large shortages, serious shortages protocols can have an important role in reducing delays in getting patients their medicines and freeing up general practitioners’ time.</p><p>The serious shortage protocol provisions would enable retail pharmacies to provide a generic medicine when the brand has been prescribed but only if there is a serious shortage of that particular branded medicine and only if the protocol, developed with and signed off by clinicians, allows for the substitution. This is not automatic generic substitution of branded medicines by retail pharmacies which is currently not allowed and the Department has no plans to change this.</p>