Following representations from Community Pharmacy England, the Department of Health of Social Care (DHSC) has re-determined the special container status of Drospirenone (Slynd®) 4mg tablets.
From 1 June 2024, Drospirenone (Slynd®) 4mg tablets were re-classified as a special container at sub-pack level (sub-pack of 28) as they meet the relevant criteria as set out in Part II Clause 10B of the Drug Tariff.
Special container status for Drospirenone (Slynd®) 4mg tablets will allow pharmacy teams to be reimbursed for the nearest complete sub-pack to the quantity ordered.
Drospirenone 4mg tablets entered Part VIIIA of the June 2024 Drug Tariff as a Category C product with the reference product Slynd® 4mg tablets annotated as a special container at sub-pack level.
For a list of all the monthly changes to the special container status of products please see the following page Notice of changes to special container status of products.
Since August 2019, Community Pharmacy England’s Dispensing & Supply team has reviewed over 4,000 products against Drug Tariff special container criteria. The three main criteria under which Community Pharmacy England has focused its attention are drugs that are considered hygroscopic, viscous external preparations and those packaged into containers from which it is not practical to dispense the exact quantity. Of those checked, Community Pharmacy England has identified and submitted applications for nearly 900 products that appear to meet one or more of the special container criteria but are not annotated as such in the Drug Tariff and/or the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d).
Where a product meets the special container criteria as set out in the Drug Tariff, a special container indicator for the relevant pack size (complete pack or sub-pack) is applied to the respective product entries in the dm+d and in the Drug Tariff, where listed.
If you identify any particular product(s) which are not currently classed as special containers but you believe satisfy the criteria (as set out in Part II CLAUSE 10 B of the Drug Tariff), please notify Community Pharmacy England’s Dispensing and Supply Team (0203 1220 810 or ds.team@cpe.org.uk) who will investigate and assess if it meets the relevant criteria. Where appropriate, Community Pharmacy England will make application to the NHSBSA and DHSC seeking for the special container status of the product(s) to be re-determined.
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