Explained: the introduction of Original Pack Dispensing
Community Pharmacy England has released a set of resources to explain the introduction of Original Pack Dispensing (OPD), including how and when it will apply.
From 1st January 2025, amendments made to the pharmacy regulations state that the supervising pharmacist must consider dispensing up to 10% more or less than the prescribed quantity, as appropriate, if that would mean the medicine could be dispensed in the manufacturer’s original pack.
To support pharmacy owners in preparing for OPD, our Regulatory, Dispensing and IT teams have been working to develop a series of guidance materials. This began with our recent OPD webinar, which outlined what these regulatory changes will mean in practice and how pharmacy teams may need to amend their dispensing processes.
The online event talked attendees through what OPD +/- 10% rules are and why they being introduced, which products they will relate to, and an update on the surrounding IT/PMR functionality.
Building on that webinar, we are now releasing FAQs alongside the on-demand recording and slide pack from the event. Together these aim to offer a comprehensive guide to the introduction of OPD for pharmacy owners and their teams.
These resources are being released ahead of the changes coming into effect to help support pharmacy owners and their teams to put plans in place to implement this new dispensing protocol.
Resources
OPD webinar: on-demand recording
Further information is available on our new Original Pack Dispensing webpage.
Note, OPD is the first of several important regulatory changes currently underway to help make dispensing more efficient and support capacity for the provision of clinical services. To learn more about these, read our new guide: New Pharmacy Regs: What you need to know
Gordon Hockey, Director, Legal at Community Pharmacy England, said:
“The new Original Pack Dispensing regulations are an important development. They will give pharmacy teams the discretion to make minor common-sense changes around the quantity dispensed for the benefit of patients, in appropriate cases.
As with all dispensing changes, Community Pharmacy England has been considering and discussing the impact of these changes on pharmacies with DHSC and NHS England. This includes confirming adjustments to reimbursement mechanisms and supporting NHSBSA and IT system suppliers to prepare for the introduction of this change.”
