The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has announced that two Acnecide products will be formally reclassified from pharmacy (P) to general sale list (GSL) medicines.
This change means that the products–Acnecide Face 5% w/w Gel & Acnecide Face Wash 5% w/w Gel–will no longer be retained behind the counter in pharmacies and therefore will be available to purchase without a pharmacist’s advice.
The decision was made following an assessment of the safety of the products and after consideration by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) along with a public consultation earlier this year.
The MHRA says making these products more widely available will allow people to treat mild acne affecting the face more easily.
“Widening public access to medicinal products when safe to do so, provides greater convenience and choice for the consumer. It also empowers individuals, allowing them to take control of their own health,” the agency said in a statement.
Jan MacDonald, MHRA’s Group Manager for Access and Information for Medicines and Standards (AIMS) in Vigilance and Risk Management of Medicines, said: “Wider availability of medicinal products and improved patient access and choice remain high on the health agenda. The MHRA is committed to improving access to medicinal products for self-care where it is safe to do so.”
