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Prescription-free antibiotics for chlamydia

06/08/2008

People with chlamydia will be able to buy antibiotics from their pharmacist without a doctor's prescription, it was announced today.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) said the Clamelle Chlamydia Service is the first ever oral antibiotic to be made available without prescription to treat the sexually transmitted infection (STI).

A spokesperson for the MHRA said the service is designed to give people aged over 16 another option to treat chlamydia that could be more convenient for them.

The service consists of a urine test that costs £25 and is sent away by the pharmacy to a laboratory.

People testing positive for the STI who have no symptoms can then pay £20 for the course of antibiotics.

"Today's move means that symptom-free people diagnosed with chlamydia and their partner will be able to get convenient, effective treatment from their local pharmacy," said Dr June Raine, director of vigilance and risk management of medicines at the MHRA.

"The MHRA is keen to support the availability of more medicines over-the-counter where it is safe to do so, and we wish to move on to new areas such as prevention and chronic disease management.

"We know many pharmacists are ready for this too. Making this medicine available from a pharmacy is a real example of how we are progressing, and enabling people to play an active role in taking charge of their own healthcare."

The medicine is expected to hit pharmacy shelves later this year.