Pharmacy Changes

Pharmacy Changes

Pharmacy Changes from 7 January 2026 when the law changes for pharmacists which could lead to patient safety concerns.

Pharmacists will be able to authorise, when absent or treated as absent, the handing out of medicines which they have previously clinically checked and bagged.

To ensure the safety of patients is protected there are calls for all pharmacy owners to have robust procedures in place before implementation.

Without these robust procedures, no pharmacy owner should implement these changes. So doing so may compromise patient safety and expose pharmacists to unnecessary risks and liability.

Later in the year further provisions are being introduced. These authorise pharmacy technicians to undertake or supervise the preparation, assembly, dispensing, sale and supply of medicines. It enables pharmacy technicians to take primary responsibility for preparation and assembly in hospital aseptic facilities.