External resources for healthcare professionals
In addition to the resources available on our website—which are also valuable for healthcare professionals—we have compiled a selection of external resources you may find helpful in your practice.
Please note that the links provided are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement.
Professionalism
- Advice and guidance on the health needs of migrant patients for healthcare practitioners
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities Culture, spirituality and religion: migrant health guide - Professional guide for pharmacists to help you understand how religion, personal values or beliefs might impact on the services you provide
General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Religion, personal beliefs and values - Standards for pharmacists
GPhC Standards for pharmacy professionals - Standards for allied health and care professions
Health & care professions council (HCPC) standards - Standards for nurses
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards - Standards for doctors, physician associates and anaesthesia associates
General Medical Council (GMC) The professional standards - Standards for dentists
General Dental Council Standards and guidance
Medicines Information
- (eMC) – Prescribing and patient information for licensed medicines
The electronic medicines compendium - The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) products
- A dictionary of product information about medicines and devices in use across the NHS including suppliers and wholesalers, Drug Tariff reimbursement, product availability, pricing information, Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT), British National Formulary (BNF) and Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs)
The NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d) - Supports the safe, effective and efficient use of medicines by providing evidence-based medicines advice and information
UK Medicines Information (UKMi) - Kosher medicines list
Kosher London Beth Din - Information about gelatine in vaccines and alternatives
UK Health Security Agency Vaccines and porcine gelatine - Formerly known as VeganMed, helping consumers and healthcare providers in identifying medications, supplements, and other health products that are free from animal-derived ingredients or specific allergens (e.g., gluten, lactose, etc.)
Pillclarity
Clinical
- Key information on the selection, prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines
British National Formulary (BNF) - Key information on the selection, prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines
British National Formulary for children (BNFC) - Information on the common ingredients, the ‘excipients’, which are frequently used to make up children’s medicines
Medicines for Children - GP notebook Halal and Haram in relation to medication
Journals
- Medicines advice for patients observing a halal diet 18 April 2018
Pharmaceutical Journal (PJ) - Dispensing Medication for Muslims: A Guide for Pharmacists July 25, 2024
Pharmacy Times - Towards halal pharmaceutical: Exploring alternatives to animal-based ingredient 13 December 2023
Heliyon
Organisations
Specialist Pharmacy Service
- How to find a medicine that is free from a specific excipient
Searching for presence or absence of an excipient in medicines - Guidance on avoiding animal content of medicines and key principles when avoiding ingredients in medicines
SPS Excipients - Guidance on supporting patients avoiding animal products, offers you informed, patient-centred decisions regarding animal containing or derived medicines 22 July 2025
Avoiding animal contents within medicines - Guidance on how spiritual, religious, cultural, and lifestyle factors can affect preferences for excipients and active ingredients in medicines 22 July 2025
Key principles on avoiding ingredients in medicines - Article explaining how the source of vitamin D or inactive ingredients (excipients) may make some products unsuitable for vegetarians or vegans 26 February 2025
Choosing vitamin D products for vegetarians or vegans - Guidance on using the electronic medicines compendium (eMC) advanced search function, other suggested reference sources and tips for acting on search results 24 June 2024
Searching for presence or absence of an excipient in medicines - Guidance on excipients and suggested resources to help find information to support queries about excipients and decision making is provided 24 June 2024
Understanding excipients in medicines
Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Fasting pharmacy guide (log in required)
Royal Pharmaceutical society