Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Phosphate Sandoz® (sodium dihydrogen phosphate anhydrous 1.936g) effervescent tablets.

MSN/2023/121

Tier 2 – medium impact

Date of issue 22nd December 2023

Phosphate Sandoz® effervescent tablets are in limited supply until late March 2024.
Unlicensed supplies of sodium acid (dihydrogen) phosphate 1mmol in 1ml oral solution from Specials manufacturers may be sourced.
Unlicensed imports of Phosphate Phebra® (16.1mmol phosphate) effervescent tablets may be sourced, lead times vary.
Polyfusor phosphates infusion 500ml (50mmol phosphate, 81mmol sodium, 9.5mmol potassium in 500mL) remain available but cannot support an uplift in demand.
Sodium glycerophosphate 4.32g/20ml concentrate for solution for infusion vials/ampoules (20mmol phosphate and 40mmol sodium per 20ml) remain available and can support a partial uplift in demand..

Unlicensed products

The following specialist importer have confirmed they can source unlicensed Phosphate Phebra® (16.1mmol phosphate) effervescent tablets (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies)

Smartway

The following Specials manufacturer have confirmed they can supply unlicensed sodium acid (dihydrogen) phosphate 1mmol in 1ml oral solution (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies):

Eaststone Ltd
IPS Pharma
Nova Laboratories Ltd
Quantum Pharma

If there is currently no listing on dm+d for the imported product for prescribers to select using their prescribing systems an EPS prescription for the unlicensed product cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe a specially manufactured or imported product, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘Phosphate Phebra or Sodium acid (dihydrogen) phosphate 1mmol in 1ml oral solution (Special Order)’ and endorsed by the pharmacy as a non-Part VIIIB special with the following information:

Amount dispensed over pack size used;
Invoice price per pack size from which the order was supplied less any discount or rebate;
Manufacturers’/importers’ MHRA licence number;
Batch number of the product supplied;
SP

A copy of this medicine supply notification, including further information, has been sent to all pharmacy NHS email addresses.

DHSC and NHSE/I have now launched an online Medicines Supply Tool, which provides up to date information about medicine supply issues. The contents of these MSNs can now be viewed on the Tool.

The Tool also details any changes to resupply dates and updates to the entries.

To access the Tool you will need  an NHS email address. Once set up and logged in, you will be able to access it online.

New shortages not listed on the SPS website, can be reported using our shortage reporting tool.

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