6 products re-classified as special containers from May 2025
Following representations from Community Pharmacy England, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has re-determined that the following products will be granted special container status from 1 May 2025.
| Generic drug name (dm+d descriptor) | Brand and/or Manufacturer | Pack size | Special container |
| Budesonide 1mg/2ml nebuliser suspension unit dose ampoules | Zentiva Pharma UK Ltd | 20 unit dose (4 x 5) | Sub-pack of 5 |
| Budesonide 500micrograms/2ml nebuliser suspension unit dose ampoules | Zentiva Pharma UK Ltd | 20 unit dose (4 x 5) | Sub-pack of 5 |
| Dexamethasone 0.1% eye drops 0.4ml unit dose preservative free | Dropodex® (Rayner Pharmaceuticals Ltd) | 20 unit dose (4 x 5) | Sub-pack of 5 |
| Dexamethasone 0.1% eye drops 0.4ml unit dose preservative free | Dexafree® (Thea Pharmaceuticals Ltd) | 3 x 10 unit doses | Sub-pack of 10 |
| Hydrocortisone sodium phosphate 3.35mg/ml eye drops 0.4ml unit dose preservative free 30 unit dose | Softacort® (Thea Pharmaceuticals Ltd) | 3 x 10 unit doses | Sub-pack of 10 |
| Naproxen 500mg / Esomeprazole 20mg modified-release tablets | Vimovo® (Grunenthal Ltd) | 60 | Complete pack |
This change to special container status is in accordance with the special container criteria outlined in Part II Clause 10B of the Drug Tariff and the Original Pack Dispensing (OPD) exceptions outlined in the Human Medicines Regulations (HMR). The three HMR exceptions include:
- medicines in a form that makes it not practicable to dispense in the exact quantity ordered;
- medicines in a container that has an integral means of application or from which it is not practicable to dispense an exact quantity;
- medicines that cannot be dispensed in the quantity ordered without adversely affecting the medicine
Specials container status is granted if a product meets at least one of the three HMR OPD exceptions listed above (i.e. the OPD +/-10% rules do not apply to special containers). For special containers, pharmacy owners can supply and will be reimbursed for the nearest pack size (complete pack or sub pack) or combination of containers nearest to the quantity ordered).
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.
More information on dispensing special containers can be found on our webpage Special containers and products requiring reconstitution.
Since August 2019, Community Pharmacy England’s Dispensing & Supply team has reviewed over 4,000 products against Drug Tariff special container criteria. Of those checked, Community Pharmacy England has identified and submitted applications for c.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 or the HMRs, 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) that are not currently classed as special containers but you believe fulfils at least one of the three HMR OPD exceptions above or satisfies any of the special container criteria outlined in Part II Clause 10B of the Drug Tariff, please notify Community Pharmacy England’s Dispensing and Supply Team (0203 1220 810 or ds.team@cpe.org.uk). The team will investigate and assess if the requested product(s) meet the relevant criteria. Where appropriate, Community Pharmacy England will make an application to the NHSBSA and DHSC seeking for the special container status of the product(s) to be re-determined.
