Ministry of Health and Ministère de la Santé - …

1 Ministry of Health and minist re de la Sant Long-Term Care et des Soins de longue dur e ontario Public Drug Programs Division Division des programmes publics de m dicaments de l'OntarioDrug Drug Programs Delivery Branch Direction de la mise en uvre des programmes de m dicaments 3rd Floor, 5700 Yonge Street 5700, rue Yonge, 3e tage Toronto ON M2M 4K5 Toronto ON M2M 4K5 Telephone: (416) 327-8109 T l phone: 416 327-8109 Toll Free: 1-866-811-9893 Sans frais: 1 866 811-9893 Facsimile: (416) 327-8912 T l copieur: 416 327-8912 Toll Free: 1-866-598-6530 Sans frais: 1 866 598-6530 Email Address/Courriel: DATE: October 31st, 2017 MEMO TO: Drug Shortages Health Partners FROM: David Schachow Director, Drug Programs Delivery Branch ontario Public Drug Programs Division RE.

2 Nabilone (Cesamet + generics) National Drug Shortage The Executive Officer (EO) has approved interim funding for requests for nabilone capsules through the Exceptional Access Program (EAP) to enable pharmacies with available stock to utilize this strength as an option for patients who, through discussion with their physicians, are unable to find a suitable alternative for nabilone. It should be noted that most brands of nabilone and strengths ( , , and 1mg) are reported on the national drug shortages website.

3 Effective on October 31st, 2017, EAP is able to receive and approve requests for nabilone capsules (by Valeant, Teva and Ranbaxy) to enable an interim funding option of all brands of nabilone where stock may be in circulation as a substitute for the nabilone and 1mg capsules. The requests can be provided by a pharmacist on behalf of the authorized prescriber (physician or nurse practitioner) and faxed to the EAP toll-free fax line at 1-844-829-6807. Please ensure this fax line is used to avoid delays in the processing of these requests to address this shortage.

4 The attached form is prepared to assist with this task and can be used by pharmacies or physicians to send in these requests to EAP. The Ministry is working on a technology solution to upload the option to use nabilone mg capsules to patients with existing claims of the ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) funded and 1mg nabilone capsules but the attached form may be used at this time. If the attached form is not suitable for this request, the EAP standard form for requesting an unlisted drug may be used and can be found at the following website: It should be noted that ALL strengths of nabilone , and 1mg capsules are on backorder and it is advised that clinicians discuss options with their patients and allocate supplies according to patient needs.

5 The status of the shortage of nabilone is provided on the drug shortages website found at the following link: Sincerely, David Schachow Director, Drug Programs Delivery Branch ontario Public Drug Programs Division Attachment: Request for Reimbursement of Nabilone Capsules through the Exceptional Access Program (EAP)