National Health Service Act 1977

41 Arrangements for pharmaceutical services

It is every Area Health Authority's duty, in accordance with regulations, to arrange as respects their area for the supply to persons who are in that area of—

(a) proper and sufficient drugs and medicines and listed appliances which are ordered for those persons by a medical practitioner in pursuance of his functions in the health service, the Scottish health service, the Northern Ireland health service or the armed forces of the Crown (excluding forces of a Commonwealth country and forces raised in a colony); and

(b) listed drugs and medicines which are ordered for those persons by a dental practitioner in pursuance of such functions. The services so provided are in this Act referred to as " pharmaceutical services ".

In this section—

• " listed " means included in a list for the time being approved by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section; and

• " the Scottish health service " and " the Northern Ireland health service " mean respectively the health service established in pursuance of section 1 of the [1947 c. 27.] National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1947 or any service provided in pursuance of Article 4(a) of the [1972 S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I. 14).] Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.