Specials
Specials are unlicensed medicines that are specifically manufactured or obtained to meet a person’s individual clinical need.
Published: 4 September 2020
About this page
This page has been archived. It still supports good pharmacy practice; however, you may find some outdated terminology or broken links.
Prescribers and pharmacists both have a responsibility to ensure that where specials are prescribed, they are the most appropriate choice and patients are supported to use them effectively.
Use this guide to help you prescribe and obtain specials appropriately.
Our prescribing guidance includes practical tips, ethical scenarios and how to manage them, a checklist for newly qualified prescribers, the competency framework and more.
Further information
- NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) — Drug Tariff
- NHSBSA Knowledge Base
- Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) Unlicensed specials and imports
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance Supply unlicensed medicinal products (specials) guidance
- Association of Pharmaceutical Specials Manufacturers website
- Royal College of Ophthalmologists Prescribing Prescribing Unlicensed Medicines A brief guide
- British Association of Dermatologists’ — Specials guidance