# Prescriptions issued in the EEA and Switzerland: guidance for pharmacists Source: https://www.keypedia.com/records/uk_mhra_guidance/uk-mhra/0714f2d9-5b01-44ac-adab-a9a099bd95f2 Type: Detailed Guide Published: March 28, 2019 Updated: February 3, 2021 > Starting January 1, 2021, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) updated guidelines for dispensing prescriptions issued in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. Governed by Regulation 214(6A) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, this framework allows UK pharmacists to fulfill prescriptions from approved countries if the prescriber belongs to a recognized profession, such as doctors, dentists, or nurses. Pharmacists must verify the prescriber’s identity, credentials, and contact details against an officially maintained list. Key restrictions remain in place: pharmacists are prohibited from dispensing any controlled drugs (Schedules 1-3) or unlicensed 'specials' against EEA or Swiss prescriptions. These prescriptions must be treated as private transactions for reimbursement purposes. Required actions for pharmacists include checking the approved country and profession lists and exercising professional discretion regarding the clinical appropriateness and authenticity of the document. If a prescription does not meet these criteria, pharmacists should refuse service and assist the patient in contacting local UK health services to obtain a valid domestic prescription. Emergency supplies of medicines are still permitted under specific recognized conditions. --- ## Content Summary From 1 January 2021, a prescription issued in an EEA member state (EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland can be dispensed in the UK if the prescriber is from a profession recognised by this guidance that is legally entitled to issue a prescription of that kind in the country in which the prescription is issued. Actions for pharmacists If you are asked to dispense an EEA or Swiss prescription, you should: identify the prescriber in the same way that you do now. The name, professional qualifications and contact details of the prescriber (including work address, email address and telephone or fax number with the appropriate international prefix) should be clearly stated on the prescription along with the name of the country in which the prescription was issued refer to the prescribing-approved countries and professions list to check whether: the prescription was issued in an approved country the prescriber is practising in a profession recognised by the UK in relation to that country You may contact the competent authority in the country in which the prescription was issued in order to check the registration of the prescriber and whether they are authorised to issue a prescription of that kind in that country. You may dispense the prescription if it has been issued in an approved country on the list and is signed by a qualified prescriber practising in an approved profession on the list. If the prescription is from a country or prescriber that is not on the list, you should not dispense the prescription and instead use your professional expertise to help the patient. This does not affect your right to exercise your professional discretion to refuse to dispense a prescription if any of the following apply: it would not ordinarily be dispensed in the UK there are doubts over its authenticity there are concerns about the clinical appropriateness of the medicine(s) for that patient it would cause any issues of health and safety Emergency supply There is no change to supplying prescription-only medicines in an emergency at the request of the patient. See further information on emergency supply of prescriptions . Emergency supplies are also possible at the request of a prescriber who is practising in a profession and country recognised by this guidance. Medicinal products subject to special medical prescription The rules relating to controlled drugs in the UK have not changed. You must not dispense a controlled drug against an EEA or Swiss prescription. A controlled drug is a product listed in schedule 1, 2 or 3 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 or in schedule 1, 2 or 3 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002. You also must not dispense ‘specials’ (unlicensed medicines that are manufactured or procured specifically to meet the special clinical needs of an individual patient) against an EEA or Swiss prescription. If you are asked to dispense an EEA or Swiss prescription listing a schedule 1 to 3 controlled drug or a special, you should advise the patient about other available treatment(s) or refer them to local health services to get a UK prescription. Reimbursement There are no changes to reimbursement. You should dispense prescriptions from approved countries and professions as private prescriptions. Prescribing-approved countries and professions list Regulation 214(6A) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (as amended by the Human Medicines (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019) refers to a list of approved countries and professions for the purpose of the definition of “approved country health professional”. Prescriptions issued by a prescriber who is practising in a listed profession in a listed country may be recognised in the UK. These professions and countries are: Approved professions doctors dentists pharmacists nurses physiotherapists chiropodists or podiatrists community nurses optometrists therapeutic radiographers paramedics Approved countries Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Republic of Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta The Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland These lists will be reviewed at least every 3 years from the date that the country or profession was included on the list. The government will communicate any changes in good time so that pharmacists are able to recognise and dispense prescriptions appropriately.