Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml and 5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vials

MSN/2024/059

Tier 2 – medium impact

Date of issue: 23rd May 2024

There will be intermittent supplies of salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml and 5mg/2.5ml nebules for the foreseeable future.
Unlicensed supplies of salbutamol 2.5mg and 5mg nebules can be sourced (see Supporting information), lead times vary.
Alternative beta2-agonists for nebulisation and intravenous administration remain available, however, they cannot support an increase in demand.
Access to licensed salbutamol nebules will be actively monitored. Where possible, supplies will be prioritised for primary care and ambulance services who are less able to use unlicensed supplies.

Unlicensed products

The following specialist importer(s) have confirmed they can source unlicensed supplies of salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml and 5mg/2.5ml nebules (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies):

Importer
Salbutamol
MHRA letter of no objection
Lead time (once letter of no objection received)
Pack size
Ordering instructions

Alium Medical
2.5mg/2.5ml
Received
1-2 weeks
20
All enquiries on pricing/account opening/orders should be sent to: enquiries@aliummedical.com

5mg/2.5ml
End May

Chemys Ltd
2.5mg/2.5ml
Received
5-7 days
20
Orders can be emailed to: sales@chemys.co.uk

5mg/2.5ml

Clinigen
2.5mg/2.5ml
Applied for
End May
20
Tel: 01932 824100; Email: ukcustomerservices@clinigengroup.com or via EDI*

5mg/2.5ml
Received
1-2 days

Genetech Pharma
2.5mg/2.5ml
Received
1-2 days
60
Send a purchase order directly to our order processing department at:
orders@genetechpharma.co.uk. For pricing and availability inquiries, hospitals or pharmacies are encouraged to contact: sales@genetechpharma.co.uk

5mg/2.5ml

Mawdsley’s
2.5mg/2.5ml
Applied for
3 weeks
20
Orders can be emailed to: unlicensed@mawdsleys.co.uk or via EDI*

5mg/2.5ml
Received
30

QMED Pharma
2.5mg/2.5ml
Received
2-3 weeks
60
To order products, Trusts should send PDF purchase orders to:
orders@qmedpharma.co.uk and
unlicensed@qmedpharma.co.uk

5mg/2.5ml

Smartway Pharma
2.5mg/2.5ml
Received
Next day delivery
20
Orders can be sent via email or GHX^
to our email address: ulm@smartwaypharma.co.uk

5mg/2.5ml

Target Healthcare
2.5mg/2.5ml
Received
1-2 days
60
Orders via email to Hospitals@targethealthcare.co.uk for Secondary Care and
specials@target-healthcare.co.uk for Primary care

5mg/2.5ml
30/60

*Electronic Data Interchange ^GHX = Order management system

If there is currently no listing on dm+d for the imported product for prescribers to select using their prescribing systems an EPS prescription for the unlicensed product cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe a specially manufactured or imported product, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘ Salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml or 5mg/2.5ml nebules (Special Order)’ and endorsed by the pharmacy as a non-Part VIIIB special with the following information:

Amount dispensed over pack size used;
Invoice price per pack size from which the order was supplied less any discount or rebate;
Manufacturers’/importers’ MHRA licence number;
Batch number of the product supplied;
SP

A copy of this medicine supply notification, including further information, has been sent to all pharmacy NHS email addresses.

DHSC and NHSE/I have now launched an online Medicines Supply Tool, which provides up to date information about medicine supply issues. The contents of these MSNs can now be viewed on the Tool.

The Tool also details any changes to resupply dates and updates to the entries.

To access the Tool you will need  an NHS email address. Once set up and logged in, you will be able to access it online.

New shortages not listed on the SPS website, can be reported using our shortage reporting tool.

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