The NHS is bringing a new generation of biosimilar medicines to patients, providing greater access to key treatments for thousands of patients. This guide provides key information for key clinical and non-clinical stakeholders about the role of biosimilar medicines in the NHS in England to support the safe, effective and consistent use of all biological medicines, including biosimilar medicines, to the benefit of patients.  
 
On 8 November 2022 the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) released updated Guidance on the licensing of biosimilar products, which states that “Once authorised, a biosimilar product is considered to be interchangeable with their reference product (RP), which means a prescriber can choose the biosimilar medicine over the RP (or vice versa) and expect to achieve the same therapeutic effect. Likewise, a biosimilar product is considered to be interchangeable with another biosimilar to the same RP”. The guidance further explains that “as a result of interchangeability, switching patients from one product to another (RP or biosimilar) has become clinical practice”. 
 
Any decision to move to a biosimilar medicine should first be made based on clinical judgement for individual patients and secondly, on the basis of the overall value proposition offered by individual medicines. It is important to consider appropriate engagement with key stakeholders, local implementation plans and timelines alongside monitoring and data collection.

The HIOW Prescribing Committee has approved a biosimilar position statement:

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Biosimilar Position Statement

Under the Equality Act 2010, public sector organisations must make reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled people can access services equally. These adjustments include physical changes such as ramps, lifts, and wider doors, as well as changes to policies, procedures, and staff training to improve accessibility. This is an anticipatory duty, meaning organisations must think ahead and make changes in advance rather than waiting for difficulties to arise. This helps remove barriers and ensures services are more inclusive.

In addition, NHS providers must follow the Accessible Information Standard. This ensures people with disabilities and people with impairments or sensory loss receive information in accessible formats, helping them understand and communicate effectively with services.

Below are links to resources that support organisations in considering and implementing reasonable adjustments to help patients access services. Further information on reasonable adjustments for people with learning disability of autism can be found here: Learning disabilities and autism - Medicines Optimisation.

The documents in this section will inform Practice Managers of the actions they need to take when a Non Medical Prescriber (NMP) joins or leaves the practice.

NMPs include nurses, midwives, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, radiographers and optometrists who have a registered independent prescribing qualification.

The majority of NMPs currently employed in GP practices are nurses but some practices are now directly employing pharmacists and physiotherapists who have a prescribing qualification and to whom this notification also applies.

Health Innovation Wessex (previously AHSN)

Please contact your local Medicines Optimisation Team (details HERE) if you require support in an area not covered in these resources, and we will endeavour to signpost you to alternatives. 
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