BMA - Drugs and prescribing

Drugs and prescribing

Response to the consultation document, 'Physicians and the Pharmaceutical Industry Questionnaire', April 2008
The response to the Royal College of Physicians Working Party consultation document comments on the four questions as set out in the questionnaire, as well as making some general comments.

Improving communication between community pharmacy and general practice - March 2008
The General Practitioners Committe of the BMA and the National Pharmacy Association have produced this workbook to help facilitate local dialogue between the two professional groups, helping to improve patient care.

Driving - drugs and driving
This briefing paper covers the BMA's concerns on the influence of drugs (both illegal and prescribed) on driving

Drugs - illicit use
A briefing from the Parliamentary Unit on the issue of illicit drug use, including details of the BMA's recommendations to reduce the problem.

Drugs - therapeutic use of cannabis
This briefing paper looks at the BMA's views on the therapeutic use of cannabis based medicines beng prescribed to patients with particular medical conditions.

Evidence-based Prescribing
This report provides an information resource for healthcare professionals on evidence-based prescribing. It explores the factors that may affect prescribing practice, how effective prescribing can be achieved, and the problems resulting from inappropriate prescribing. It outlines the limitations of the current evidence base, discusses education and training in prescribing, and highlights the sources of information available to healthcare professionals for evidence-based prescribing.

Prescription charges
This Parliamentary Unit briefing paper says that the prescription charge system is outdated and calls on the Government to initiate a fundamental review of the whole system of prescription charges and exemption categories.

Reporting Adverse Drug Reactions: A guide for healthcare professionals
This guide, published in 2006, acts as a signposting resource for healthcare professionals on the effective reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). This resource aims to reinforce the importance of pharmacovigilance and the reporting of ADRs in particular.

Over the counter medication
The purpose of this report is to provide an analysis of the current trends in OTC medications, as well as current treatment and prevention strategies using OTC medications, followed by recommendations for improving these strategies.

Information and guidance on prescribing in general practice
This information and guidance was produced by the GPC and includes an introduction, patients and prescribing: rights and responsibilities, prescription intervals, travel vaccinations, supplementary and independent prescribing, the use of licensed drugs for unlicensed purposes and useful resources