The Department of Health and Social Care (DH) has issued two Serious Shortage Protocols (SSP) for Fluoxetine 30mg capsules and Salazopyrin EN-Tabs 500mg following persisting supply disruption.
Introduced with immediate effect on Tuesday (October 20), SSP07 recommends three Fluoxetine 10mg capsules or one Fluoxetine 20mg capsule and one Fluoxetine 10mg capsule in response to the serious shortage affecting Fluoxetine 30mg capsules.
SSP08 will provide a suitable alternative product, generic Sulfasalazine 500mg gastro-resistant (GR) tablets in response to the serious shortage affecting Salazopyrin EN-Tabs 500mg.
“Both SSPs have been authorised by the Secretary of State to help manage the supply of these products and to try to ensure that fewer patients have to return to their prescriber,” the DH has said.
All community pharmacy teams will receive an email to their shared NHSmail account informing them of these SSPs.
SSP07 may be amended or revoked at any time but currently expire on December 22, where as SSP08 is expected to terminate on December 4.
Reimbursement is for the medicine supplied in accordance with the SSP and not the originally prescribed medicine. The contractors will be reimbursed the drug tariff part VIIIA reimbursement price for the Fluoxetine 20mg capsules, Fluoxetine 10mg capsules or Sulfasalazine 500mg gastro-resistant (GR) tablets.
The reimbursement price will account for VAT payment. Supply in accordance with the SSP will result in the following fees being paid to the contractor…
- One Single Activity fee (currently £1.27)
- One SSP fee (£5.35).
