The overall supply position for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products has improved considerably since last Spring. There are over 70 HRT products and the vast majority of those are in good supply.
Action taken to date includes:
• Holding multiple meetings with individual suppliers on a regular basis, requesting frequent stock updates, monitoring progress against plans, horizon scanning for upcoming issues, problem solving and expediting resupply dates, where needed to mitigate shortages, where possible;
• Hosting five HRT supply roundtables with suppliers, wholesalers and community pharmacists, to provide updates on the supply position and actions being taken to address them, share data and discuss relevant policy developments and potential impacts;
• Issuing 22 Serious Shortage Protocols for HRT products. Only 2 remain, one for Progynova 100microgram patches and a more recent one for Utrogestan 100mg capsules, as the supply disruptions with most products experiencing shortages have been resolved;
• Adding some HRT medicines to the list of products that cannot be exported from, or hoarded in, the UK. Restrictions are used to support wholesalers to meet their legal obligation to supply the UK market, but only where less trade restrictive measures are not sufficient on their own;
• Sharing communications and comprehensive management guidance with the NHS on a regular basis, to provide advice on handling of supply issues, including direction to use alternatives where available.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have advised there will be an intermittent supply of Utrogestan 100mg capsules until late 2023. Deliveries are frequently being made, but despite high volumes being supplied by the manufacturer they have struggled to meet rising demand. They are taking steps to increase supply, but in the meantime DHSC have issued a Serious Shortage Protocol which allows pharmacists to dispense a maximum of 2 months’ supply per prescription to ensure equitable distribution of available stock.
Commenting, Mims Davies MP said:
It is welcome there has been a significant improvement in the overall supply of HRT products since last Spring. As Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression I am committed to ensuring we have the support in place to recruit and retain women experiencing the menopause and know that HRT products help many women to continue working. If you live in Mid Sussex and are struggling to access HRT products, please do contact me directly at: mims.davies.mp@parliament.uk as I am keen to help all I can.