Wording of UK FMD hub alert messages being updated

SecurMed, the organisation which runs the UK Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) hub, will be changing the wording of the eleven alert messages and one related system message produced by the hub when the data on the pack of a medicine gives cause for concern for its authenticity.

Both the “Description” and “Short Description” are being amended to make them more understandable to users of the system; this change follows discussions between SecurMed, the UK FMD Working Group for Community Pharmacy and some FMD system suppliers. See the revised messages on the SecurMed website.

The change will be made effective on Sunday 17 March 2019.

Implications for pharmacy teams

This does not alter the way you use your FMD system, but you may start to see the amended wording appearing when you use your system following the change. If your Standard Operating Procedures contain details of the FMD alert messages, you may want to update your procedures to reflect the new wording.

Updated UK FMD Working Group for Community Pharmacy interim guidance

The interim guidance published by the UK FMD Working Group for Community Pharmacy has been updated to reflect the revised FMD alert wording which will start to appear in FMD systems from Sunday 17 March 2019:

• Interim guidance on dealing with FMD alerts (version 2 6/3/19) – PDF document
• Interim guidance on dealing with FMD alerts (version 2 6/3/19) – Word document