PCA(P)(2019)9 - Access to Medicines Complete Package and the British National Formulary (BNF)

Published: 10/05/19

This Circular advises community pharmacy contractors of; continuing access to the Medicines Complete package from 2019/20; and changes to the distribution arrangements for the British National Formulary (BNF).

Background

Medicines Complete provides online access to some of the world's leading drug and healthcare references, including access to eMartindale.

The existing access arrangements have been extended for a further 3 year period from April 2019 to March 2022.

Detail about the publications available and arrangements for accessing is contained at the Annex.

Detail

The BNF is provided to eligible NHS healthcare professionals involved in using medicines. An updated version is currently provided to community pharmacies every six months in March and September.

The British National Formulary for Children (BNF(c)) is provided annually in September.

From September 2019, hard copies of the BNF will be issued to community pharmacies annually instead of bi-annually as part of the Medicines Complete contract arrangements. No March edition will be supplied. Since 2015, other eligible NHS Scotland healthcare professionals been receiving only the September edition.

The BNF(c) will continue to be provided annually each September.

The BNF and BNF(c) are available as an App from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, currently there is no requirement for a username.