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/2024/021
Tier 3 – high impact
Date of issue 21st February 2024
Link: Medicines Supply Tool
Summary
Salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml and 5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid is in very limited supply with a resolution date to be confirmed.
Unlicensed supplies of salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml and 5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid have been sourced, lead times vary.
Alternative beta2-agonists for nebulisation remain available, however, they cannot support an increase in demand.
Additional guidance will be issued shortly.
Actions Required
Primary and secondary care should:
place urgent orders now for unlicensed imports of salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml and 5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid (see supporting information below). Due to lead times, do not wait for licensed supplies to be exhausted before placing orders for imports. Prescribers should work with local pharmacy teams to ensure orders are placed within appropriate time frames as lead times may vary; and
note that additional guidance will be issued shortly.
Supporting information
Guidance on ordering and prescribing unlicensed imports
The following specialist importer(s) have confirmed they can source unlicensed supplies of salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml and 5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid (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
Applied for
1-2 weeks
30
All enquiries on ricing/account
opening/orders should be sent to: enquiries@aliummedical.com
5mg/2.5ml
2-3 weeks
5
Genetech
Pharma
2.5mg/2.5ml
Applied for
7-10 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
25
Orders can be emailed to: unlicensed@mawdsleys.co.uk or via EDI*
5mg/2.5ml
4 weeks
30
QMED
Pharma
2.5mg/2.5ml
Applied for
3-4 weeks
60
To order products, Trusts should send PDF purchase orders to: orders@qmedpharma.co.uk and unlicensed@qmedpharma.co.uk.
5mg/2.5ml
4-5 weeks
60
Smartway
Pharma
2.5mg/2.5ml
Received
2-3 weeks
20
Orders can be sent via email or GHX^ to our email address: ulm@smartwaypharma.co.uk.
5mg/2.5ml
1 week
20
Tanner
Pharma
2.5mg/2.5ml
Applied for
5-7 days
20
All orders can be placed via email to: fbrett@tannerpharma.com.
5mg/2.5ml
5-7 days
20
Target
Healthcare
2.5mg/2.5ml
Applied for
1-2 weeks
20
Orders via email to Hospitals@target-healthcare.co.uk for Secondary Care and specials@target-healthcare.co.uk for Primary care
*Electronic Data Interchange ^GHX = Order management system
Any decision to prescribe an unlicensed medicine must consider the relevant guidance and NHS Trust or local governance procedures.
When prescribing a product that is not licensed in the UK due to a supply issue with the licensed alternative prescribers must indicate on the FP10 prescription that an unlicensed product is required. This can be done in one of the following two ways:
Electronic prescriptions – if the required unlicensed product is shown on electronic prescribing systems, GPs should select:
salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml and 5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid (imported)
Paper prescriptions – where the unlicensed product is not shown on electronic prescribing systems, GPs should use a paper prescription and annotate with the following wording: “special order”.
Enquiries
Enquiries from NHS Trusts in England should in the first instance be directed to your Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialist (RPPS) or Associate RPPS, who will escalate to national teams if required.
REGION
Lead RPPS
Email
Associate RPPS
Email
Midlands
Andi Swain
andi.swain@nhs.net
Diptyka Hart
Diptyka.Hart@uhb.nhs.uk
East of England
James Kent
james.kent@nhs.net
Tracy McMillan
tracy.mcmillan2@nhs.net
London
Jackie Eastwood
jacqueline.eastwood@lpp.nhs.uk
Daniel Johnson
Daniel.Johnson@gstt.nhs.uk
North East and Yorkshire
David Allwood
davidallwood@nhs.net
Penny Daynes
penny.daynes@nhs.net
North West
Richard Bateman
richard.bateman@liverpoolft.nhs.uk
Andy Stewart
Andrew.stewart@liverpoolft.nhs.uk
South East
Alison Ashman
Alison.Ashman@berkshire.nhs.uk
Melanie Renney
melanie.renney@berkshire.nhs.uk
South West
Danny Palmer
danny.palmer@uhbw.nhs.uk
Natalie Bryson
Natalie.Bryson@uhbw.nhs.uk
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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