The NHS restrictions on prescribing of influenza antiviral treatments, Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and Zanamivir (Relenza®) have been relaxed to allow prescribing of these flu antivirals at any time of the year for patients in clinical at-risk groups as well as those who are at risk of severe illness and/or complications from flu if not treated.
Previously, to allow NHS prescribing of influenza antivirals for the prophylaxis or treatment of influenza, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was required to notify general medical practitioners that the influenza virus is in circulation in the community. However, prescribing regulations and the Selected List Scheme (SLS) in Part XVIIIB of the October 2025 Drug Tariff have now been amended to remove the notification requirement in relation to the prescribing of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and Zanamivir (Relenza®) allowing year-round prescribing of these treatments.
This change is part of a Government effort to streamline access to flu treatments, reduce winter pressures on the NHS by allowing outbreaks to be contained, and provide medicines quickly at any time of the year.
Pharmacy staff who receive NHS prescriptions (generic or branded) for Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and Zanamivir (Relenza®), should check that these prescriptions are endorsed ‘SLS’ by the prescriber. The ‘SLS’ endorsement confirms the product has been prescribed in accordance with the Selected List Scheme (SLS) criteria outlined in Part XVIIIB of the Drug Tariff. If the prescriber ‘SLS’ endorsement is missing, the prescription should be returned to the prescriber to have endorsement added. Pharmacy staff cannot add the ‘SLS’ endorsement to a prescription; only the prescriber can do this.
For EPS prescriptions, the prescriber must use the SLS endorsement function available on their prescribing system. Prescribers must not add ‘SLS’ as free text into any other fields for example dosage instructions or ‘additional instructions’ field also known as medication specific information or notes to pharmacy as this information is not read by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).
On FP10 paper prescriptions for Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and Zanamivir (Relenza®), the prescriber must endorse ‘SLS’ against the item.
The full list of ‘SLS’ products and associated NHS prescribing criteria can be found in Part XVIIIB of the October 2025 Drug Tariff.
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