APSM

N EW White Paper – How Specials can deliver value to the NHS without compromising patient safety. The APSM, Association of Pharmaceutical Specials Manufacturers, has launched a White Paper which for the first time attempts to attribute an economic value to the provision of unlicensed medicines within the NHS.  The paper takes a series of typical patient scenarios where a Special is indicated and then identifies the potential cost to the NHS of attempting to meet patient need with a lower cost, or higher risk alternative.  In all of these cases this additional cost has exceeded that of providing a special and sourcing it according to established guidance. The White Paper was commissioned in the light of growing concern about cost pressures leading to higher risk practice in the supply chain. Striking the balance between cost and quality Specials account for approximately 1% of prescription costs and in recent years, as part of overall pressure on NHS budgets, the cost of Sp

The Association of Pharmaceuticals Specials Manufacturers (APSM) has welcomed the recent initiative by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) to introduce guidance for pharmacists preparing unlicensed medicines.  Although extemporaneous preparation (Section 10 exemption) is only intended for use in emergencies, it is nonetheless an essential part of the overall specials supply chain. Patient safety is a priority for all parties concerned and in the past decade we have seen huge investment in process and systems by the Department of Health and Specials Manufacturers alike. This investment, combined with the stringent quality requirements of the MHRA for MS licensed Specials manufacturers, means that the UK specials sector is one of the safest in the world. As GPhC Chief Executive Duncan Rudkin stated, ‘ patients have the right to expect unlicensed medicines to be of the same quality as their licensed equivalents’ .    Through legislation and best practice guidance, the UK is