Medicine Supply Notification: Minims® Povidone Iodine 5% w/v Eye Drops, Solution

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Minims® Oxybuprocaine hydrochloride 0.4% eye drops 0.5ml unit dose Minims® Proxymetacaine 0.5% eye drops 0.5ml unit dose.

MSN/2023/080

Tier 2 – medium impact

Date of issue 22nd August 2023

• Minims® Povidone Iodine 5% w/v eye drops, solution are in limited supply until early October 2023.
• A number of Specials manufacturers are able to produce unlicensed povidone iodine 5% eye drops.
• Unlicenced imports of povidone iodine 5% ophthalmic solution may be sourced, lead times vary.
• Videne® (povidone iodine) antiseptic solution 10% w/w cutaneous solution is available and can be diluted to 5%.

Unlicensed imports

The following specialist importers have confirmed they can source Specials or imports of povidone iodine 5% (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies):

• Mandeville Medicines
• Orifarm
• Tayside

If there is currently no listing on dm+d for the imported product for prescribers to select using their prescribing systems an EPS prescription for unlicensed povidone iodine 5% cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe a specially manufactured or imported product, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘ povidone iodine 5% (Special Order)‘ and endorsed by the pharmacy as a non-Part VIIIB special with the following information:

• Amount dispensed over pack size used;
• Invoice price per pack size from which the order was supplied less any discount or rebate;
• Manufacturers’/importers’ MHRA licence number;
• Batch number of the product supplied;
• SP

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.