The States maintains a 'White List' of medicines (drugs) and medical appliances. They are available to residents of Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Jethou on prescription following payment of the prescription charge (currently £4.60 per item), unless that resident is exempt from prescription charges.
Please note that there are also some specialist medicines (drugs) and medical products not on the list, which are approved for use in the hospital either for inpatients or for some outpatients e.g. people receiving chemotherapy.
Funding for medicines in the hospital and in the community has been agreed by the States of Guernsey on the advice of a group of local doctors and pharmacists in the Prescribing and Formulary Panel. Please click on the headings below for further information. The medicines and drugs that are currently approved for funding in the community can be viewed on the White List in the downloads section of this page.
If you would like more information about the White List and how medicines and appliances are added or removed from it, please see the Terms of Reference of the Prescribing and Formulary Panel in the downloads section of this page or contact Geraldine O'Riordan, Prescribing Advisor, tel: 01481 224207.
Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs)
- In December 2020, the Medicines (Human and Veterinary) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2008 (guernseylegalresources.gg) were changed to introduce SSPs.
- If the Committee for Health and Social Care decide there is a serious shortage of a specific medicine or appliance, then an SSP may be issued.
- The pharmacist must use their professional skill and judgement to decide, alongside medical experts, whether it is reasonable and appropriate to substitute the patients prescribed order for the active SSP. The patient would also have to agree to the alternative supply for that dispensing month, or episode.
- Pharmacists should check the table for the latest information for each SSPs validity, as they can change.
SSP Briefing for Community Pharmacy Teams V1.0 [266kb]
Active SSPs
Name of SSP \ ref no.
Start date - End date
17 April 2023 - 17 June 2023
17 April 2023 - 17 June 2023
Multi-compartment compliance aids 2023
How do I get medicines or appliances that are on the White List?
- Doctors, dentists and approved nurse prescribers may prescribe approved medicines or appliances (e.g. catheters). If you have a medical condition that requires treatment you should seek professional advice. Your doctor, dentist or nurse will agree with you the most appropriate treatment for you. This may include a prescription.
- Some medicines may only be dispensed by the hospital pharmacy. Prescriptions for all other medicines may be dispensed at any of the local pharmacies.
Are all medicines and appliances available?
- The Bailiwick of Guernsey is not part of the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. Consequently not all drugs with positive NICE Technology Appraisals are available at public expense.
- Sometimes a medical professional will advise that the most appropriate treatment for you is a medicine or appliance that is not on the White List. In these unusual cases, a private prescription will still be issued to you. This will mean that you can collect the item from a local pharmacy, but you will need to pay the full price of the medicine or appliance that has been prescribed.
Why is there a White List?
- Public funds are limited, so it is very important that the best possible use is made of them. The White List is the limited prescribing list that exists under the Health Service (Benefit) (Limited Lists) Ordinance, 2004. It sets out the list of medicines and medical appliances that the States of Guernsey has approved for funding with public money.
Prescription charge exemptions
- You should not need to pay for your prescription if you are:
- Pension age.
- Claiming Income Support or the dependant of someone who is.
- Covered by the Medical Expenses Assistance Scheme or the dependant of someone who is.
- Receiving Severe Disability Benefit
- You have a certificate, issued by Social Security, that shows you are exempt from the charge.
Prescribing and Formulary Panel meeting minutes
- The Prescribing and Formulary Panel meet on a monthly basis to discuss what medicines and appliances are added or removed from the White List. The minutes of these meetings, from June 2019 onwards, are listed below.
- June 2019
- July 2019
- August 2019
- October 2019
- November 2019
- December 2019
- January 2020
- March 2020
- July 2020
- August 2020
- September 2020
- October 2020
- December 2020
- January 2021
- March 2021
- April 2021
- May 2021
- June 2021
- July 2021
- August 2021
- September 2021
- October 2021
- November 2021
- December 2021
- January 2022
- February 2022
- March 2022
- April 2022
- June 2022
- July 2022
- August 2022
- September 2022
- October 2022
- November 2022
- December 2022
- January 2023
- February 2023
- March 2023
- April 2023
- May 2023
- June 2023
- July2023
- September 2023
- October 2023
Pharmacy circulars
- This section contains Pharmaceutical Service circulars that have been issued to our doctors and pharmacists with important information on updates and changes.
- 2019
- 2022
If you would like more information about the White List and how medicines and appliances are added or removed from it, please contact Geraldine O'Riordan, Prescribing Advisor tel: 01481 224207
