POSA161 Economic Analysis of NHS England's Policy to Reduce the Carbon Impact of Inhalers by Encouraging a Rapid Prescribing Switch from Pressurised Metered Dose Inhalers (PMDIS) to Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIS)

Abstract

NHS England aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, and has targeted a 50% reduction in the emissions generated by inhalers by 2028, by encouraging a rapid prescribing switch from pMDIs to DPIs. Current policies only cover non-salbutamol inhalers, despite these generating approximately 58% of inhaler emissions in the UK. New low global warming potential (GWP) propellents, such as hydrofluroalkane (HFA)-152a, can greatly minimise emissions from both salbutamol and non-salbutamol pMDIs.