Northern Ireland has removed the seasonal restriction on prescribing the influenza antivirals oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) in primary care. Statutory Rule 2026 No. 72, made on 1 April 2026 and coming into operation on 1 May 2026, amends the 2004 General Medical Services prescribing regulations to permit year‑round ordering where other eligibility conditions are met. (niassembly.gov.uk)
The instrument alters Schedule 2 to the Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs Etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 by deleting sub‑paragraph (a) in paragraphs (1) and (3) of the oseltamivir entry and sub‑paragraph (a) in paragraph (1) of the zanamivir entry. In practice, this removes a precondition that previously tied routine prescribing to an official notification. (niassembly.gov.uk)
Under the previous framework, GPs could prescribe these antivirals only when the Department had notified that influenza was circulating in the community, or under defined pandemic arrangements. The Business Services Organisation’s Drug Tariff Part XI(b) set out these conditions alongside treatment windows and eligible patient cohorts. (bso.hscni.net)
The 2026 Regulations now remove that notification requirement. The Department of Health’s Explanatory Memorandum confirms the change enables standard prescription processes outside the flu season, provided the remaining column 2 criteria in Schedule 2 continue to be satisfied. (niassembly.gov.uk)
Procedurally, the rule was laid in the Assembly Business Office on 1 April 2026 under the negative resolution procedure, with the statutory scrutiny period ending on 18 May 2026. It applies to services delivered under general medical services contracts and takes legal effect from 1 May 2026. (niassembly.gov.uk)
Officials also reference parity with England. The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 took effect on 1 October 2025 and removed the same notification trigger there; Northern Ireland’s measure replicates this approach within its own 2004 Regulations. (legislation.gov.uk)
For prescribers, clinical decisions are no longer contingent on a formal ‘start of season’ notice. All other safeguards remain: eligibility continues to be limited to the patient groups and timing windows defined in Schedule 2, including initiation within the recommended period after symptom onset or satisfying exposure criteria for prophylaxis. (niassembly.gov.uk)
The instrument is signed and sealed on behalf of the Department by Cathy Harrison. Primary care teams and commissioners should update local prescribing guidance and formularies ahead of the 1 May commencement to reflect the year‑round position and maintain audit trails consistent with GMS contract requirements. (niassembly.gov.uk)
For patients in at‑risk groups presenting outside the traditional winter window, clinicians can now prescribe without delay linked to surveillance thresholds, subject to the existing criteria. Pandemic‑specific supply arrangements provided in Schedule 2 remain available separately and are not altered by this change. (bso.hscni.net)