- Patient Group Directions
Patient Group Directions (PGDs) are documents (in the English
National Health Service ) permitting the supply of prescription-only medicines (POMs) to groups of patients, without individual prescriptions. [http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/EmergencyPlanning/EmergencyPreparednessArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4069610&chk=in7ZEF Patient group directions (PGDs).] ] [http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/pdfs/pgdpack.pdf Patient group directions resource pack for pharmacists (RPSGB).] ]PGDs have been used to make certain POMs available to the public, under certain circumstances. These drugs include
Orlistat (as Xenical) for weight loss in cases ofObesity [http://www.boots.com/microsites/microsite_info_template.jsp?contentId=4846 Boots the Chemist Pharmacy Services.] ] ,Finasteride (as Propecia) for restoration of hair inMale-pattern baldness [http://www.boots.com/microsites/microsite_info_template.jsp?contentId=4846 Boots the Chemist Pharmacy Services.] ] ,Sildenafil (as Viagra) [http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20070217/news/p179viagra.html Boots launches private PGD service to supply Viagra (PJ online).] ] forErectile dysfunction andLevonorgestrel as Emergency Hormonal Contraception [http://www.ffprhc.org.uk/admin/uploads/PGDLevonelle1500.pdf Levonelle (Royal College of Nursing).] ] . The supply of Levonelle is different, however, in that it is not a POM, but can be used to provide the drug free of charge.References
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