Intermittent supply problems can occur due to either manufacturing issues causing shortages of branded products (‘Manufacturer Cannot Supply’, MCS) or supply issues affecting medicines, resulting in generics being difficult to obtain at Scottish Drug Tariff Part 7 (SDT) prices, or at all.
The Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) Medicine Supply Tool, produced by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in England, provides up to date information on current and upcoming supply issues, in addition to clinical advice on alternatives that may be considered as a result of the supply interruption. The SPS Medicine Supply Tool requires users to register (FREE) with the website before content can be accessed. Click here to register for access to the SPS Medicines Supply Tool. Where an alternative product is required during a period of supply interruption, clinicians should consult the Forth Valley formulary and where appropriate, prescribe an alternative product in line with the Forth Valley formulary.
Please note that the SPS Medicines Supply Tool will make reference to NHS England Medicine Supply Notices (MSNs) rather than Scottish Government Medicine Supply Alert Notices (MSANs) which apply in Scotland. Where an MSAN is available – this should be used as the key reference in managing the supply issue. MSANs are available to access on the Scottish Government’s SHOW website here.
The advice in the SPS Medicine Supply Tool is not intended to serve as a standard of medical care or be applicable in every situation. Decisions regarding the treatment of individual patients must be made by the clinician in light of the patient’s presenting clinical condition and with reference to current good medical practice. Where local advice has been issued centrally within NHS Forth Valley, this will be disseminated via email to relevant parties.
Useful Links
- The DHSC list of current Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) can be accessed here.
- NHS Forth Valley Shortages Flowchart to assist in managing supply problems (Last updated: 27th Oct 2022).
- Community Pharmacy Scotland have a Shortages Page which provides links to various resources for Community Pharmacists.
- Information on the availability of eye products is available from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the UK Ophthalmic Pharmacy Group’s shortages page.
- A commercial Drug Shortages Tracker is also provided by MIMS to subscribers here.
- Information on Part 7 generic medicines which are identified as being in short supply is available via the Community Pharmacy Scotland Website which indicates the revised Part 7 prices for agreed shortages. Community Pharmacists are advised to report problems with obtaining Part 7 items at Tariff prices via the Community Pharmacy Scotland Shortages Reporter.