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.^[1][2]

Additional recommended knowledge

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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 of Obesity^[3], Finasteride (as Propecia) for restoration of hair in Male-pattern baldness^[3], Sildenafil (as Viagra) ^[4] for Erectile dysfunction and Levonorgestrel as Emergency Hormonal Contraception^[5]. 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

1. ^ Patient group directions (PGDs).
2. ^ Patient group directions resource pack for pharmacists (RPSGB).
3. ^ ^{a b} [ http://www.boots.com/microsites/microsite_info_template.jsp?contentId=4846 Boots the Chemist Pharmacy Services.]
4. ^ Boots launches private PGD service to supply Viagra (PJ online).
5. ^ [ http://www.ffprhc.org.uk/admin/uploads/PGDLevonelle1500.pdf Levonelle (Royal College of Nursing).]