Emergency exemption for chemical warfare antidote injections
Antidotes to chemical warfare agents are likely to be added to the list of medicines that can be injected by anybody to save life in an emergency.
As a general rule, it is an offence to inject a medicine other than
in accordance with the directions of an appropriate practitioner.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has started consultation
on a proposal to add pralidoxime chloride and obidoxime chloride to the
life-saving exemption list under the Medicines Act 1968. Both are used
in combination with atropine sulphate to counter poisoning by nerve agents
and organophosphate pesticides.
There is also a proposal to add smallpox vaccine to the list, subject
to two restrictions: it must have been supplied by or on behalf of the
Secretary of State, the devolved administrations or an NHS body; and
the administration must be in response to officially suspected or confirmed
spread of smallpox virus. In practice, administration is expected to
be restricted to health care professionals.
Products already covered by the exemption are adrenaline 1mg in 1ml injection,
atropine sulphate injection, chlorpheniramine injection, cobalt edetate
injection, dextrose injection strong BPC, diphenhydramine injection,
glucagon injection, hydrocortisone injection, mepyramine injection, promethazine
hydrochloride injection, snake venom antiserum, sodium nitrite injection,
sodium thiosulphate injection and sterile pralidoxime. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal