Medicine Supply Notification: Estriol (Ovestin® ) 1mg cream – Updated
Update 24/05/22: two additional SSP’s were issued on 20/05/22 allowing community pharmacists to supply estriol 0.01% cream which remain available, if estriol (Ovestin 1mg) 0.1% cream is unavailable.
Where using an SSP is not suitable unlicensed supplies can be sourced lead times vary.
The following specialist importer has confirmed they can source unlicensed oestradiol 0.06% gel (please
note there may be other companies that can also source supplies):
When prescribing a product that is not licensed in the UK due to a supply issue with the licensed alternative
prescribers must indicate on the FP10 prescription that an unlicensed product is required. This can be done
in one of the following two ways:
Electronic prescriptions – if the required unlicensed product is shown on electronic prescribing
systems, GPs should select:
- Ovestin 0.1% cream (Imported)
Paper prescriptions – where the unlicensed product is not shown on electronic prescribing systems,
GPs should use a paper prescription and annotate with the following wording: “special order
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Estriol (Ovestin®) 1mg cream.
MSN/2022/038
Tier 2 – medium impact
Date of issue 3rd May 2022
- Estriol (Ovestin®) 1mg cream is experiencing intermittent supply issues until July 2022.
- A Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) was issued on 29/04/2022.
- Alternative hormone replacement therapies remain available
A copy of this medicine supply notification, including further information, has been sent to all pharmacy NHS email addresses.
DHSC and NHSE/I have now launched an online Medicines Supply Tool, which provides up to date information about medicine supply issues. The contents of these MSNs can now be viewed on the Tool.
The Tool also details any changes to resupply dates and updates to the entries.
To access the Tool you will need an NHS email address. Once set up and logged in, you will be able to access it online.
New shortages not listed on the SPS website, can be reported using our shortage reporting tool.
