New medicine decisions

Formulary Committee Decisions

Decisions on new medicines are made by the East Region Formulary Committee and can be easily searched via the Formulary Decisions page.

In line with guidance developed by the ADTC Collaborative, East Region Formulary Committee decisions on new medicines use the following standard wording:

• Routinely available in line with national guidance
• Routinely available in line with local or regional guidance
• Routinely available from a specialist centre in another health board
• Not routinely available as not recommended for use in NHSScotland
• Not routinely available as local clinical experts do not wish to add the medicine to the formulary at this time or there is a local preference for alternative medicines
• Not routinely available as local implementation plans are being developed or the ERFC is waiting for further advice from local clinical experts

Where there is no formulary flag the medicine is included on the formulary for general use. Additional details specific to the medicine including restrictions will be included in the formulary content, or in links to local or regional prescribing information.

Specialist Initiation: the medicine must be initiated by a specialist clinician, the specialist could be working in any setting, the medicine is appropriate to be continued in a primary care setting. The initiation could be a recommendation to the GP to start the medicine or in some instances initial prescribing and supply of the medicine will be from the specialist service transferring to primary care after an initial trial or perhaps when a stable maintenance dose is achieved. Additional details specific to the medicine including restrictions will be included in the formulary content or in links to local or regional prescribing information. Legal responsibility for prescribing lies with the doctor or health professional who signs the prescription, and it is the responsibility of the individual prescriber to prescribe within their own level of competence.

Specialist Use Only: it is recommended that the medicines must only be prescribed by a specialist. Initiation and monitoring of treatment should remain under the direct supervision of the appropriate specialist clinician. Additional details specific to the medicine including restrictions will be included in the formulary content or in links to local or regional prescribing information.

Unlicensed Medicines

Unlicensed medicines are classified under the local board policy for the use of unlicensed medicines.