Two new products added to the HRT PPC medicines list from June 2023

From June 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has updated its definition of Hormone Replacement Therapy to include two more products to the list of HRT medicines covered by the new HRT prepayment certificate (HRT PPC). The new additions include:

• Tibolone 2.5mg tablets (Livial^®)
• Prasterone 6.5mg pessaries (Intrarosa^®)

The June 2023 Drug Tariff (Part XVI) has been updated to include these additional HRT medicines for which patients will be able to purchase an HRT PPC. See below the updated of definition of HRT as outlined in Part XVI of the June 2023 Drug Tariff:

‘Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the replacement of female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone in women to control symptoms of the menopause. Some medicines that are converted or break down into oestrogen, progestogen or androgen hormones are prescribed for relief of menopausal symptoms. For the purposes of the HRT PPC these are included within this definition of HRT. Types of HRT include:

• combined oestrogen plus progestogen HRT – for women who still have their uterus
• oestrogen only HRT – for women who have had a hysterectomy
• tibolone – acts as a combined hormone therapy.

To be included on the list below (and therefore within scope of the HRT PPC) the products must be:

(1) HRT as defined above; and
(2) licensed for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in the UK.

Please note: there can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same active substance’

Pharmacy staff are advised to check the NHSBSA website for an up-to-date list of HRT medicines covered by the HRT PPC. Community Pharmacy England (formerly PSNC) has updated its HRT medicines list* to reflect the changes taking effect from June 2023. *Please note: you may need to hard refresh (press Ctrl+R) to refer to the most up-to-date version.

The HRT medicines list has been compiled following consultation with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), NHSBSA and the NHS England Menopause Clinical Reference Group. The list will be updated as new HRT medicines licensed for the treatment of menopause become available in the UK or as existing HRT medicines are discontinued from the UK market. If a product that meets the criteria is missing from the HRT medicines list please contact dhsc.publicenquiries@dhsc.gov.uk.