Molecule Life Cycle Management: POM to P to GSL - Switching Patients to Consumers 2011

Historically, medicines switched from POM to P have had safe ingredients and been for easily self-diagnosed and acute indications. There have been many of these types of drugs switched since ibuprofen and loperamide were first switched from POM-P in 1983. Also as a result of medicines becoming more widely available through pharmacies, the growth in both consumer confidence and the strong grocery sector has lead to an increasing number of ingredients switching from P-GSL.

However, in recent years the number of switches occurring has fallen considerably, and there have been a few high profile switches that have not had the economic or consumer success that has been anticipated. This is unfortunate as there is still an important role for the POM-P process, particularly with current constraints on NHS spending potentially leading GPs to reduce prescribing and promote further self care to their patients, and possibly a greater contribution to be made from fully exploiting the potential of the P-GSL switch.