Department of Health and Social Care
For the full letter, please click here.
21st May 2019
Re: Microgynon 30 tablets and Ovranette tablets
Dear all,
Bayer have notified the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) that due to capacity constraints at their manufacturing site in Germany, Microgynon 30 tablets will be out of stock from late May until w/c 8th July (residual stock in wholesalers may last until early June). Please see attached DHCP letter from Bayer for further details. Pfizer have also informed DHSC they will be out of stock of Ovranette tablets from early June until August 2019 due to capacity constraints. Both Microgynon 30 and Ovranette contain ethinylestradiol 30 microgram/levonorgestrel 150microgram.
Local action required:
• Prescribers and pharmacies should work together during this time to understand local availability of ethinylestradiol 30microgram/levonorgestrel 150microgram products.
• Patients who do not have sufficient supply of Microgynon 30/Ovranette tablets to last throughout the affected period should be prescribed Rigevidon, Levest or Elevin, if clinically appropriate.
• Prescribers are advised not to switch to Microgynon 30 ED, Leandra or Maexeni during the affected period as they are unable to support any increase in demand.
• In order to minimise the disruption this may cause locally in terms of patients seeking GP appointments, GP practices may want to consider using local IT systems to identify patients who may be impacted by this shortage and to manage prescription switching to the suggested alternatives, where appropriate.
See also: