These Regulations further amend the Charges for Drugs and Appliances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 (“the Charges Regulations”) and the Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs Etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 (“the Drugs Regulations”).

Regulation 2 inserts a new exemption into the Charges Regulations, the new regulation 7A, the effect of which is that two named antiviral medicines will be exempt from the charging arrangements in the Charges Regulations, if distributed under arrangements for their free supply made by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (“the Department”) or the Regional Board.

Regulation 3 amends Schedule 2 of the Drugs Regulations in relation to the same two antiviral medicines to widen the circumstances under which they may be ordered for patients under general medical services contracts. Essentially, they may be ordered during outbreaks of pandemic influenza for treatment or prophylaxis of influenza, where this is under arrangements for the distribution of the medicines free of charge which are approved by the Department or the Regional Board.