The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Salazopyrin EN-Tabs 500 mg due to ongoing shortage of the medicine.
With SSP014 in place from today (November 26), for every prescription one Sulfasalazine 500mg gastro-resistant (GR) tablet will be supplied.
This SSP will expire on December 20, 2021, and PSNC will update contractors in case of any change.
PSNC has advised pharmacists to notify the patient’s prescriber while supplying in accordance with this SSP.
Besides, the supervising pharmacist should refer back to the prescriber if a non-chewable atorvastatin tablet would not be appropriate for the patient.
They must exercise their professional judgement to ensure the alternative products are suitable for the patient.
Contractors will receive the documentation for SSP014 which they should read and implement fully, the negotiator said.
The extension of the transition period, as secured by the PSNC, will enable use of No Cheaper Stock Obtainable (NCSO) endorsement and allow SSP claims on tokens until the end of January 2022.
Reimbursement will be for the medicine supplied in accordance with the SSP and not the originally prescribed medicine.
Sukhi Basra