The decriminalisation of dispensing errors is a priority for the government but pharmacists should not expect "overnight changes" to the law, pharmacy minister Earl Howe has told C+D in an exclusive interview.

Earl Howe was "absolutely sure" that the programme board – set up in January to rebalance medicines legislation and pharmacy regulation – had the experience and skill to bring the work to conclusion, he told C+D last week (July 30).

It was a priority for the government to create sanctions for dispensing errors that were proportionate and balanced the needs of patients with those of pharmacists and their staff, he said. However, Earl Howe added that it was a complex exercise and pharmacists should not expect "overnight changes".

Pharmacy minister Earl Howe said that amending legislation was a complex process and pharmacists should not expect "overnight changes"	More on dispensing errors Legislation board invites pharmacists to join       decriminalisation debate APPG: don't wait until 2014 to act on dispensing errors Decriminalisation a priority for legislation board MORE NEWS
	"This is about a modern approach to regulation that maintains public safety but supports professional and systems development," Earl Howe said. "We need to change the current system and I'm confident we will do."

Under section 64 of the Medicines Act, it is a criminal offence for a pharmacist or technician to dispense the wrong product to a patient, even in error.

In May, programme board chair Ken Jarrold told C+D that the board had made dispensing errors a fast-track issue and hoped to pass secondary legislation to decriminalise them under section 60 of the Health Act by the end of 2014.

Selected pharmacists and patient representatives have been invited to join the discussion on the decriminalisation of dispensing errors in October, the board announced after its third meeting last month.