�The NPA regards the switch of azithromycin from POM to P as an unequaled opportunity for community chemist's to go an alternative option for safe and effective treatment for chlamydia infection.
Under the proposed pharmacy modelling, patients benefit from an additional seed of testing and discourse - on a countrywide scale. This additional route would fill a gap in preparation, making it easier and quicker for people to receive screening and allow treatment. It will likewise provide a convenient and confidential pick for people who would prefer not to assist a GUM clinic or GP operating room for chlamydia treatment. This pharmacy serve will besides be helpful to the National Chlamydia Screening Programme through the sharing of anonymised demographic data with the NHS.
Colette McCreedy, NPA Chief Pharmacist said:
"The NPA supports this reclassification wholeheartedly as we believe community pharmacies are ideally placed to offer chlamydia screening and treatment. We also believe that the proposed chemist's service volition complement existing provision within the NHS and will help to ease the financial restrictions and overstretched resources presently affecting existing services for this quickly escalating problem."
And adds:
"The MHRA has demonstrated great confidence in pharmaceutics by delivery an antibiotic drug to the P market. This testament, we hope, mark the beginning of a new phase of POM to P switches."
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) was established in 1921 as the trade association of residential area pharmacy owners. To reflect the changes in the pharmacy environment the NPA now extends membership and its associated benefits to all members of the community pharmacy infrastructure.
National Pharmacy Association
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