To ask the Minister of Health to detail the rationale as to why pharmacies do not provide blister packs for daily prescription medication for new customers.

My Department recognises the important role community pharmacies play in supporting patients who require assistance in adhering to their medication. Medicines adherence support, including the provision of Monitored Dosage Systems (MDS) or blister packs, is intended for patients who meet the criteria for reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), based on an assessment by the community pharmacist. However, as the provision of adherence support is based on this assessment, not all new customers will be provided with blister packs for daily prescription medication.

Having completed their assessment, a community pharmacist determines what, if any, adjustment is most appropriate to meet the individual patient need. Where assessed as necessary by the community pharmacist a range of reasonable adjustments may be provided at no cost to the patient, such as reminder charts/alarms, dexterity aids, and/or the provision of medicines in a blister pack.

My Department provides significant funding to community pharmacy to meet the DDA requirements in relation to adherence support, including £18 million in recurrent funding. This funding is incorporated into pharmacy dispensing fees alongside additional related funding uplifts for 2025/26.

This funding does not cover patients who do not require support as a reasonable adjustment under DDA but for whom the pharmacy nevertheless provides adherence support e.g. requested for convenience. The provision of blister packs in this instance would be a commercial decision for the community pharmacy and a charge may apply.

Given the constraints across health and social care, it is important that medicines adherence support is prioritised towards those patients who meet the criteria for reasonable adjustments under the DDA and who have the greatest clinical need. While monitored dosage systems (MDS), or blister packs, can be beneficial for some patients, they are one of a range of possible interventions and are not suitable or necessary in all cases; decisions are made on an individual, case-by-case basis.

Patients who have concerns about managing their medicines should discuss these with their community pharmacist in the first instance.