Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which medicines and foods that are readily available over the counter, or in shops, can be prescribed by GPs, and whether they intend to ban all such prescriptions.

Some medicines and foods which are available to buy over the counter can be made available on prescription where they have a role in managing a patient’s clinical condition. A general practitioner is able to prescribe any product on the National Health Service they consider necessary for the treatment of their patient unless it is listed in Schedule 1 to the NHS (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) Regulations 2004. However, the Department encourages prescribing in line with clinical and cost effective guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE provides national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health.

The Department has no plans to ban the prescribing of all over the counter medicines and medical foods on prescription.