Pharmacists have renewed their push to be able to dispense sildenafil without a prescription — and to advertise the erectile dysfunction drug to attract patients

In June the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling (ACMS) will consider an application to allow pharmacists who have undertaken an accredited training course to supply a pack containing four doses of 50 mg sildenafil to men who have previously been prescribed a PDE5 inhibitor by a doctor.

If the application is successful, sildenafil would be added to Appendix M of the schedule, a category introduced last year to allow medicines requiring additional checks and balances to be down-scheduled to pharmacist-only.

The unnamed private applicant is also seeking advertising approval for sildenafil on the basis it will encourage “early engagement with the health care system via a suitably-trained pharmacist”.