Glaucoma: Drugs
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what analysis he has undertaken of the factors contributing to the availability of Latanoprost and Timolol combination eye drops; and what steps he is taking to (a) help increase that availability and (b) mitigate the consequences for people with prescriptions for those eye drops.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Department is aware of a supply issue with Latanoprost 50 micrograms/millilitre and Timolol five milligram/millilitre eye drops 0.2 millilitre unit dose preservative free. We are currently working with the impacted manufacturer, suppliers of alternatives, and National Health Service specialists to understand the situation and will issue guidance to NHS prescribers as soon as possible, in line with the robust procedures already in place.
While we can’t always prevent supply issues from occurring, we have a range of well-established processes and tools to manage them when they arise and to mitigate risks to patients. These include close and regular engagement with suppliers, expediting regulatory procedures, sourcing unlicensed imports from abroad, adding products to the restricted exports and hoarding list, use of Serious Shortage Protocols, and issuing NHS communications to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients.
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