introduced to the House of Assembly on Friday.

The Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations 1998 updates the Act to include drugs which were not listed before following recommendations by the local Pharmacy Council.

It makes some drugs more available as is practised elsewhere.

Inserted in the third schedule, which means they are available by prescription only, are Famotidine and Nizatidine.

Loratadine tablets and syrup, Famotidine and Nizatidine preparations for internal use can now be obtained from a registered pharmacy.

And Acyclovir topical preparations, Ketoprofen preparations for internal use, Minoxidil topical preparations, Neomycin preparations for external use, Ranitidine, Nizatidine capsules, Sodium Cromoglycate eye drops and ointment and Nicotine patches can now be bought without a prescription from a pharmacist in a registered pharmacy.