Serious shortage protocols have been issued across the UK for three penicillin medicines
CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on gov.uk
Serious shortage protocols (SSPs) are a standard procedure, used frequently to manage temporary and potential medicine supply issues. They are a safe and effective way to ensure that medicines continue to be available for everyone who needs them, while saving time for patients, pharmacists and prescribers.
Demand for penicillin has risen recently as it is used to treat strep A and scarlet fever, and the increased demand means that some pharmacists are experiencing temporary and localised supply issues and may not have the specific formulation listed on the prescription.
There are various versions of penicillin – liquid, sugar-free liquid and tablet – and the SSP issued will give pharmacists the flexibility to supply an alternative formulation, if they do not have the one listed in stock.
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