Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered at on 17 December 2020.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Priadel lithium tablets continue to be supplied to patients in the UK.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that patients having to switch to other lithium products because of a discontinuation of Priadel lithium tablets do not suffer harm or adverse events as a result of such a switch.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have provided (1) to GPs, and (2) to mental health trusts, on advising patients that have to switch to other lithium products because of a discontinuation of Priadel lithium tablets.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a helpline for patients seeking advice about switching to other lithium products because of a discontinuation of Priadel lithium tablets.
Ensuring patients have access to the medicines they need is vital. The Department brought this matter to the attention of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) who opened an investigation.
Essential Pharma has now agreed to continue supplying Priadel to the National Health Service and we have agreed revised prices with the company. This means patients can continue to access this important treatment as normal without the need for widespread systematic switching. The CMA has received a proposed commitment from Essential Pharma that it will continue to supply Priadel for a minimum of five years, thereby securing the long-term availability of this crucial medicine.
We continue to communicate the most up to date information with the NHS, including general practices and mental health trusts and further updates are expected to be issued shortly. As supplies of Priadel remained available no central helpline was considered.
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