The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on Wednesday (9) issued Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Lansoprazole 15mg orodispersible tablets and Lansoprazole 30mg orodispersible tablets due to supply disruptions.
As per the protocol, wherever these two acid disorder treatment tablets are available, the total quantity supplied per patient should not exceed a month.
These SSPs (SSP088 and SSP089) would expire on 15 January 2027, but they may be amended or revoked at any time.
This protocol provides for the supply of a reduced quantity of these two tablets than mentioned in the prescription.
When supplying a patient in accordance with this SSP, the supervising pharmacist should ensure that the patient’s prescriber is notified.
For supply in accordance with the protocols, no prescription charges will be applicable.
When declaring prescription totals at the end of the month, pharmacists should declare these prescriptions as paid.
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) will amend total monthly figures to account for prescriptions covered by the protocols.
The pharmacists should endorse the prescription with the correct SSP number to help NHSBSA to appropriately amend the total monthly figures.
Pharmacy owners will receive an email to their shared NHSmail account informing them of this SSP.
Pharmacy teams should read the documentation in full and implement the protocol with immediate effect.
Pharmacists are required to comply with the requirements outlined within the individual SSP as published on the NHSBSA website.
Shortages list growing: NPA
Commenting on a new shortage protocol for certain strengths of dispersible Lansoprazole, National Pharmacy Association Chair Olivier Picard said: "We are concerned by these shortages of Lansoprazole, which is one of many shortages of medicines that pharmacies and their patients have had to grapple with.
"This joins a growing list of medicines that pharmacies are finding it hard to source for patients this year, including Ramipril, Aspirin, Co-codamol and Creon to name a few.
"Any patient relying on orodispersible Lansoprazole should speak to their GP and pharmacy to ensure they have continued access to the treatment they need.
"This could include limiting supply to one month or moving to an alternative strength, where this is clinically appropriate and supplies are available.
"The government should allow pharmacists to make appropriate substitutions to ensure patients do not have to go back to their GP to find an alternative.
"Pharmacies are increasingly facing supply problems affecting everyday medicines on which millions rely upon, with some describing shortages as the worst they have ever experienced."
