Over-the-counter medicines – should these types of medicines be available on prescription?
November 1, 2016
Clinical Commissioning Groups across Kirklees want to know what you think about over-the-counter medications.
Background
GPs in Kirklees currently prescribe a wide range of medicines and products which are widely available in pharmacies and/or supermarkets. We are proposing that we will not routinely fund a range of products on prescription such as:
- sunscreens for skin protection from UV radiation
- soya and thickened infant formulas
- infant formula for lactose intolerance
- cream for unwanted facial hair and other products that have a predominantly cosmetic action*
- camouflage products e.g. for port wine stain birthmarks
- multivitamins, where no specific deficiency has been identified
- emollients (moisturisers), shampoos, bath and shower products and fungal nail treatments for minor conditions which will get better on their own/have no long-term health impact, or for cosmetic purposes.
*This includes eflornithine which is a prescription-only treatment for the removal of facial hair. However, alternative non-prescription treatments are available over-the-counter.
