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25 Nov 04 15:52 |
The first antibiotic to be sold by pharmacies without a prescription may get the go-ahead under plans being considered by the drugs regulator.
The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is consulting on whether to make chloramphenicol eye drops available over-the-counter.
The antibiotic, used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis, can only be dispensed on prescription at the moment.
But experts said widespread use could reduce its effectiveness.
Chloramphenicol is also used in hospitals to treat life-threatening illnesses such as typhoid.
Antibiotic resistance has helped fuel rising rates of superbugs in hospitals, including MRSA, which kills thousands of patients each year.
The MHRA said there was no evidence the move would lead to more antibiotic resistance but said resistance patterns would be monitored if it was licensed for over-the-counter sale.
MHRA chairman Sir Alasdair Breckenridge said: "Chloramphenicol eye drops have been widely used for many years and are an effective way of treating bacterial conjunctivitis.
"By making them available over the counter, patients will be able to get the treatment they need more easily and quickly.
"Most pharmacists already have a good knowledge of common eye conditions such as conjunctivitis.
'Suffering'
"If the overall response to the consultation is favourable, training materials will be offered to pharmacists to build on their existing expertise so that they can advise customers on the use of these eye drops as well as identifying minor eye problems from more serious conditions."
Up to 2% of primary care consultations are for bacterial conjunctivitis.
Dr George Rae, from the British Medical Association (BMA), said: "While the BMA is in favour of extending services to patients by expanding the role of pharmacies, and there may be some benefit to some non-oral antibiotics being available over the counter, we would have a number of concerns.
"Making antibiotics more freely available, when we are seeing increasing resistance to them across the population, is questionable."
David Pruce, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, said he welcomed the consultation.
"Pharmacists are highly-trained experts in medicines and their uses who already give advice to patients on a wide range of treatments and are ideally placed to help patients manage minor ailments and chronic conditions."