PDA slams RPS support for facilitated self-selection of P meds

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has strongly criticised the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS’) recent support for facilitated self-selection of Pharmacy medicines – describing the move as ‘misguided, premature and potentially harmful’.

The union argued that the model risked diluting a pharmacist’s ‘critical role in safeguarding medicine use’ and urged the RPS to commit to the prohibition of self-selection.

A new position statement from the RPS last week set out its support for facilitated self-selection of P medicines – stressing that pharmacies adopting the model must work in line with regulatory standards and have ‘robust processes’ in place.

The model refers to setups ‘where people can pick up P medicines themselves without having to ask a team member to either get it for them or open a cabinet’, with ‘key safeguards’ in place, according to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Previously, the RPS held the position that ‘Pharmacy medicines must not be accessible to the public by self-selection’.

But in its new statement this month, it said it was ‘supportive’ of the adoption of models that enable facilitated self-selection of P medicines and that pharmacies choosing to implement this should consider ‘good practice guidance’ when doing so.

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It also published new professional guidance on the issue, setting out risk assessment factors, roles and responsibilities, safeguards, training, and the medicines that ‘may not be suitable’ under the model.

The PDA has raised several concerns about the move towards self-selection and its survey last year saw more than nine in 10 responding pharmacists oppose the model.

Today, the PDA has issued a full response to the RPS’ latest position statement – warning it is ‘deeply concerned and holds strong opposition’ against the society’s endorsement of self-selection.

‘This position, while perhaps well-intentioned in seeking to modernise access, is fundamentally flawed in its assumptions, lacks sufficient evidentiary support, and risks undermining patient safety, professional standards and public trust in pharmacy practice,’ it said.

It outlined six key areas of concern, including patient safety, the risk of undermining professional oversight, commercial pressures, legal issues and the viability of the P medicines category.

‘Facilitated self-selection does not guarantee pharmacist intervention at the point of decision-making,’ the PDA said.

‘It reactively engages the pharmacist after the patient has made a choice, often psychologically committing to it, which can lead to resistance, confrontation, or even violence which is an issue already escalating in community pharmacy settings.’

The PDA also argued that facilitated self-selection ‘risks shifting the pharmacy model from healthcare-led to retail-driven, where commercial incentives may override clinical judgement’.

And it suggested the model went against the government’s shifts for the NHS, ‘which emphasises prevention, integration, and professional-led care as seen in the Pharmacy First Service programme and digital patient records’.

In terms of the P medicines category, the union suggested the model could undermine its viability.

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‘If P medicines are made available for self-selection, even in a facilitated model, it raises the question; why should they remain classified as P-medicines at all?’ it said.

‘This shift could jeopardise future prescription only medicine (POM) to P medicines reclassifications, as regulators may no longer trust that pharmacist oversight is meaningfully maintained.’

In addition, the union said it was concerned that the RPS’ support for facilitated self-selection had come at a time when the government was looking to bring in legislative changes to pharmacy supervision – which aims to free up pharmacist time by allowing registered pharmacy technicians to take on more responsibility.

‘While the stated aim of this reform is to free up pharmacists’ time for more clinical services when combined with the liberalisation of P medicine sales through facilitated self-selection, this could result in several risks to putting patients at harm,’ the PDA claimed.

‘This could also affect the advising pharmacist/patient interactions at the point of medicine selection and supply, the eroding the pharmacist’s gatekeeping role, and undermine the very rationale for maintaining the P medicines category.’

It added: ‘The RPS’ support for facilitated self-selection is misguided, premature, and potentially harmful.

‘The convergence of facilitated self-selection and supervision reform could create a dangerous vacuum in professional oversight, where no one is clearly accountable for ensuring the safe and appropriate use of P-medicines at the point of sale.’

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In setting out its concerns, the PDA has listed three asks of the RPS:

1. Reaffirm its commitment to the prohibition of self-selection of P-medicines
2. Engage in transparent, profession-wide consultation before endorsing any policy change
3. Prioritise patient safety and professional integrity over convenience or commercial interests.

‘Until such steps are taken, the PDA will continue to oppose any model that dilutes the pharmacist’s critical role in safeguarding medicine use,’ the PDA added.

The RPS has been contacted for comment.