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Ministry of Social Affairs and Health restricts the delivery of asthma medicines to safeguard availability
Under section 87 of the Emergency Powers Act, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has decided to restrict the delivery of salbutamol products used for asthma treatment. The purpose of the restrictions on the sale and delivery of pharmaceuticals is to ensure equal and fair access to medicines for all patients throughout Finland.
The maximum quantity of salbutamol products (ATC code R03AC02) that pharmacies may deliver at a single time is the amount equivalent to one month of treatment. The quantity being delivered may not exceed the remainder of the prescription. This provision applies to all packages in the above-mentioned ATC group and the decision is valid until 13 May 2020. The restrictions will ensure the adequacy of the products and the continuity of medicinal treatment for all, including those who need them over the long term.
Although the availability of medicines in Finland is currently at a fairly good level, the spread of the COVID-19 virus and resulting pandemic has caused an increase in consumers' normal need for medicines in certain medicinal groups. In addition, the spread of COVID-19 has led to the inappropriate purchase of medicinal products among pharmaceutical users. Even in the exceptional situation caused by the coronavirus, large at-home stocks should not be acquired just to be on the safe side. This will allow us to avoid peaks in demand and everyone who needs the products will get them.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has also continued its previous decision to safeguard the availability of medicinal products
In accordance with the decision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, pharmacies must avoid placing unnecessarily large orders for medicinal products with pharmaceutical wholesalers despite momentary peaks in demand. During the pandemic, Fimea is performing enhanced supervision of pharmacy orders from pharmaceutical wholesalers.
All operators in the pharmaceutical distribution chain are working continuously and in close cooperation to ensure the availability of medicines despite this exceptional situation.
Read more:
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health press release 9 April 2020 and decisions (in Finnish)
Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) news article 9 April 2020 (in Finnish)
Instructions on how to get help with pharmacy needs during the coronavirus pandemic (Kanta Services)
Further information:
Pirjo Rosenberg, Section Chef, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, tel. +358 29 522 3246
Eeva Leinonen, Head of Unit, tel. +358 29 522 3220
Timo Mauriala, Head of Unit, tel. +358 29 522 3214
Johanna Nystedt Director, tel. +358 29 522 3210
E-mail address format: firstname.lastname@fimea.fi
Medicinal products in the ATC group (R03AC02) that are on the market:
Marketing authorisation holder: Teva
Airomir 0.1 mg/dose, pressurised inhalation, suspension, 200 doses
Airomir Autohaler 0.1 mg/dose, pressurised inhalation, suspension, 200 doses
Marketing authorisation holder: Orion
Buventol Easyhaler 100 microg/dose, inhalation powder, 200 doses
Buventol Easyhaler 200 microg/dose, inhalation powder, 200 doses
Marketing authorisation holder: GlaxoSmithKline
Ventoline Diskus 200 microg/dose, inhalation powder, measured dose, 60 doses
Ventoline Evohaler 0.1 mg/dose, pressurised inhalation, suspension, 200 doses
Ventoline 1 mg/ml, solution for inhalation, 20 x 2.5 ml
Ventoline 2 mg/ml, solution for inhalation, 20 x 2.5 ml
Ventoline 5 mg/ml, solution for inhalation, 20 ml