Healthcare administrations have been asked to make changes to reimbursement to enable dispensing practices to routinely dispense original packs.

Such changes should also apply to medicines containing sodium valproate, which also are to be routinely supplied in whole packs (original packaging).

These decisions follow a government consultation, which endorses the practice of original pack dispensing (OPD) and whole-pack dispensing of medicines containing sodium valproate.

However, there is an exemption to the requirement for OPD dispensing of sodium valproate for individual vulnerable patients, in two circumstances:
• a risk assessment is in place that refers to the need for different packaging
• processes are in place to ensure the supply of patient information leaflets.

OPD reimbursement for dispensing practices will require changes to be made to the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013.

The aim of OPD is to increase patient safety by ensuring the medicine is provided with the patient information leaflet (PIL) and to reduce time spent splitting boxes, snipping blisters and repackaging medicines.