Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to assist independent pharmacies in the purchase of the (a) hardware and (b) software required by the implementation of the Falsified Medicines Directive.

The Department has supported the development of sector specific guidance for implementation of the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) to support pharmacies, including independent pharmacies, in understanding their obligations when making hardware and software purchases. NHS Digital has been working with stakeholders and system suppliers to provide information on minimum technical specifications, as well as benefits beyond the FMD. A community pharmacy toolkit, with the different options open to pharmacies in implementing the FMD, has been produced by NHS Digital.