Information for Patients
ACCESS TO MEDICINES:
What processes do medicines have to go through before they can be routinely prescribed on the NHS in Scotland?
Healthcare Improvement Scotland have produced a very useful short video which explains how your doctor or healthcare professional decides on the right treatment or medicine.
Access to medicines not recommended for use in NHS Scotland
Most new medicines are evaluated for clinical and cost effectiveness by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) when they fall within their remit. The SMC then advises Health Boards on whether the medicine is accepted for use in the NHS in Scotland or not. Further information on this process and reasons why medicines might not be approved can be found at: www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/about-us/
Processes exist to allow your doctor to request access to non-accepted medicines, taking into consideration your individual clinical circumstances. These processes are the Individual Patient Treatment Requests (IPTRs) and the Peer Approved Clinical System Tier 2 (PACS 2).
- Click here to see a patient information leaflet which explain more about the PACS 2 process in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
- Click here to see a factsheet that explains more about the IPTR process in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
- Click here to go the Medicines Policies. Sections 5.2 and 5.4 are the policy documents relating to IPTRs and PACS 2
Where your consultant cannot provide the advice you seek, you can use the following email address to contact an appropriate person within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde: ggc.medicines@nhs.scot