Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Apraclonidine (Iopidine®) 5mg/ml (0.5%) eye drops. MSN/2025/018 Tier 2 – medium impact Date of issue: 27th March 2025 Apraclonidine (Iopidine®) 5mg/ml (0.5%) eye drops are out of stock until early September 2025. Limited supplies of parallel imported apraclonidine (Iopidine®) 5mg/ml (0.5%)
Read moreDepartment of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Levofloxacin 250mg and 500mg tablets MSN/2025/017 Tier 2 medium impact Date of issue: 27th March 2025 Levofloxacin 250mg tablets are in limited supply until late April 2025 Levofloxacin 500mg tablets are in limited supply until late May 2025. Alternative antibiotics remain
Read moreDepartment of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Megestrol (Megace®) 160mg tablets MSN/2025/016 Tier 2 – medium impact Date of issue: 25/03/2025 Megestrol (Megace®) 160mg tablets are out of stock until mid-April 2025. Medroxyprogesterone (Provera®) 200mg and 400mg tablets remain available and can support an increase in demand. Medroxyprogesterone
Read moreA new Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Drug Safety Roundup March 2025 has been published and includes articles on: Prolonged-release opioids: Removal of indication for relief of post-operative pain Suzhou Surgicare disposable Hysteroscopy Sheath – Recall due to withdrawn CE certificate. DSI/2025/001 Letters and Recalls in February and March 2025 News Roundup –
Read moreCommunity pharmacy teams are reminded that, from 6 April 2025, patients who hold a tax credit exemption certificate will no longer receive automatic entitlement to free NHS prescriptions under the ‘Tax Credit exemption certificate’ category. This is because HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will be ending tax credit payments on 5 April 2025. To help
Read moreThe Government has yet to conclude consideration of any increases to prescription charges and prescription pre-payment certificates (PPCs) for 2025/26. The current charges will therefore roll over into April 2025. Community Pharmacy England will update community pharmacy teams as soon as any changes are announced by Ministers, including details of when they will be implemented.
Read moreFollowing discussions between Community Pharmacy England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) regarding medicine pricing issues reported by pharmacy owners, the Department has today (20/03/2025) announced the following list of price concessions for March 2025: Drug Pack size Price concession Acamprosate 333mg gastro-resistant tablets 168 £21.65 Alendronic acid 70mg tablets 4 £1.21
Read moreFollowing discussions between Community Pharmacy England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) regarding medicine pricing issues reported by pharmacy owners, the Department has today (18/03/2025) announced the following initial list of price concessions for March 2025: Drug Pack size Price concession Alfuzosin 2.5mg tablets 60 £4.46 Bimatoprost 300micrograms/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye
Read moreNational Patient Safety Alert: Discontinuation of Promixin® (colistimethate) 1-million unit powder for nebuliser solution unit dose vials National Patient Safety Alert Reference Number: NatPSA/2025/001/DHSC Date issued: 17 March 2025 Explanation of identified safety issue Promixin® (colistimethate) 1-million-unit powder for nebuliser solution unit dose vials (UDVs) are being discontinued from early May 2025, with stocks anticipated
Read moreThe Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued guidance regarding the use of prolonged-release opioids in post-operative pain. The indication for the treatment of post-operative pain has been removed from the licences of all prolonged release opioids including prolonged-release morphine and prolonged-release oxycodone, due to the increased risk of persistent post-operative opioid use
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