PCA(P)(2022)13 - 22 - Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for HRT Products
Published: 23/05/22
The Scottish Government has released ten new circulars outlining the introduction of temporary serious shortage protocols (SSPs) to help pharmacy teams manage demand for HRT products in short supply – these relate to Premique Low Dose tablets, Oestrogel, Ovestin, Lenzetto spray and Sandrena gel. In addition to the 3 SSPs released in late April, there are now a total of 13 live SSPs.
These SSPs allow the pharmacist to either:
Restrict the quantity supplied – where a prescription has a duration of more than three months and supplies are available, an equivalent of three months’ supply will be permitted in accordance with the SSP for the prescribed medicine; or
Substitute with a specific alternative product – where the prescribed duration of treatment is three months or less and supplies are unavailable, a pharmacist can supply a specific alternative product sufficient to provide a reasonable estimate of the prescribed duration of treatment, if deemed clinically appropriate; or
Substitute with a specific alternative product AND restrict of the quantity supplied – where a prescription has a duration of more than three months and supplies are unavailable, the SSPs will allow pharmacists to provide three months’ supply of specific alternative product.
For each SSP, there are specific patient counselling points which must be taken into account when deciding whether supply in accordance with an SSP is suitable for a patient. Pharmacists will need to call on their clinical expertise to determine which SSP is the most appropriate to use in each scenario and to counsel patients on any changes made to their treatment and what it means for their medicine regiment.
| SSP number | Brand name | Generic name | Substitute medicine | SSP Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSP022 | Oestrogel® Pump-Pack 0.06% gel | Estradiol 0.06% gel (750microgram per actuation) |
Estradiol patch Once weekly patch (Progynova TS®, Femseven®) or Strength of estradiol patch to be determined according to the patient’s current dosing regime of Oestrogel® – refer to Annex A of SSP |
29th October 2022 |
| SSP024 | Ovestin® 1mg cream | Estriol 0.1% cream |
Estriol 0.01% cream For every 15g pack of Ovestin® 1mg cream or Estriol 0.1% cream, pharmacists must supply 2 x Estriol 0.01% cream (80g pack). >Total quantity to supply should be equivalent of the number of days originally ordered on the prescription. |
29th October 2022 |
| SSP027 | Lenzetto® 1.53mg/dose transdermal spray | Estradiol 1.53mg/dose transdermal spray |
Estradiol patch Once weekly patch (Progynova TS®, Femseven®) or Strength of estradiol patch to be determined according to the patient’s current dosing regime of Lenzetto® – refer to Annex A of SSP |
29th October 2022 |
| SSP030 | Sandrena® 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets | Estradiol 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets |
Estradiol patch Once weekly patch (Progynova TS®, Femseven®) or Strength of estradiol patch to be determined according to the patient’s current dosing regime of Sandrena gel® – refer to Annex A of SSP |
29th October 2022 |
