The Department of Health and Social Care has released a list of the items that will be in scope for the HRT pre-payment certificate, which is set to be launched on 1 April.
Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said that the new certificate would help around 400,000 women save hundreds of pounds a year.
DHSC said that women will need to apply for the PPC through the NHS Business Services Authority or in person at a pharmacy registered to issue PPCs.
Once it has been granted, it will be available for use immediately on or after 1 April 2023.
Patients will show the digital or paper copy HRT PPC to the pharmacist when collecting HRT products, and complete the exemption declaration on the NHS prescription form.
The PPC can be used against a list of HRT prescription items, which can now be found online and below, and can be used against an unlimited number of HRT items.
It will be valid for twelve months and will cost the same as two single prescription charges – currently £18.70.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: ‘This new certificate will make HRT more accessible than ever before - helping around 400,000 women save hundreds of pounds a year.’
Minister for Women, Maria Caufield, added: ‘Around three-quarters of women will experience menopause symptoms, with a quarter experiencing severe symptoms - which can seriously impact their quality of life.
Reducing the cost of HRT is a huge moment for improving women’s health in this country, and I am proud to be announcing this momentous step forward.
In our Women’s Health Strategy, we made menopause a top priority. By making HRT more accessible, we’re delivering on our commitment to women.’
It said that it would consider enhancing the process if DHSC was able to supply a list of eligible medications, but at that stage neither pharmacy teams or IT suppliers had been issued with the list.
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has previously expressed concerns about the impact of the certificate’s implementation on pharmacy teams’ workload.
And yesterday amid widespread reports of Utrogesten shortages, MP Carolyn Harris called for the government to meet with HRT manufacturers and suppliers before 1 April to ensure that supply would be able to keep up with demand when HRT becomes ‘more accessible’ for women in England than ever before.
DHSC said that it engages with suppliers on a weekly basis, closely monitors the supply of HRT, and regularly meets with individual suppliers, including hosting quarterly roundtables with industry to ensure a continuous supply of HRT.
This article will be updated to include further information.
What items are in scope for the HRT PPC?
| Product name | Ingredient |
| Bedol | (Estradiol 2mg) |
| Bijuve/Bijuva | (Estradiol 1mg; micronised progesterone 100mg) |
| Blissel | (Estriol 50mcg) |
| Climanor | (Medroxyprogesterone 5mg) |
| Clinorette | (Estradiol 2mg; norethisterone 1mg) |
| Elleste Duet | (Estradiol 1mg and 2mg; norethisterone 1mg) |
| Elleste Duet Conti | (Estradiol 2mg; norethisterone 1mg) |
| Elleste Solo | (Estradiol 1mg and 2 mg) |
| Estraderm MX | (Estradiol 25mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg and 100mcg) |
| Estradot | (Estradiol 25mcg, 37.5mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg and 100mcg) |
| Estring (90-day preparation) | (Estradiol 7.5mcg/24 hours) |
| Estriol | (Estriol 0.01%) |
| Ethinylestradiol 10mcg | (Ethinylestradiol 10mcg) |
| Evorel | (Estradiol 25mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg and 100mcg) |
| Evorel Conti | (Estradiol 50mcg; norethisterone 170mcg) |
| Evorel Sequi | (Estradiol 50mcg; norethisterone 170mcg) |
| Femoston | Estradiol 1mg and 2mg; dydrogesterone 10mg) |
| Femoston Conti | (Estradiol 500mcg and 1mg; dydrogesterone 2.5mg and 5mg) |
| Femseven | (Estradiol 50mcg, 75mcg) |
| Femseven Conti | (Estradiol 50mcg; levonorgestrel 7mcg) |
| FemSeven Sequi | (Estradiol 50mcg; levonorgestrel 10mcg) |
| Gina | (Estradiol 10mcg) |
| Imvaggis | (Estriol 30mcg) |
| Indivina | (Estradiol 1mg and 2mg; medroxyprogesterone 2.5mg and 5mg) |
| Kliofem | (Estradiol 2mg; norethisterone 1mg) |
| Kliovance | (Estradiol 1mg; norethisterone 500mcg) |
| Lenzetto | (Estradiol 1.53mg) |
| Livial | (Tibolone 2.5mg) |
| Mirena | (Levonorgestrel 20mcg/24 hours) |
| Novofem | (Estradiol 1mg; norethisterone 1mg) |
| Oestrogel/dose | (Estradiol 0.06%) |
| Ovestin | (Estriol 1mg) |
| Premarin | (Conjugated oestrogen 300mcg, 625mcg and 1.25mg) |
| Premique low dose | (Conjugated oestrogen 300mcg; medroxyprogesterone 1.5mg) |
| Progynova | (Estradiol 1mg and 2mg) |
| Progynova TS | (Estradiol 50mcg and 100mcg) |
| Sandrena | (Estradiol 500mcg and 1mg) |
| Tridestra | (Estradiol 2mg; medroxyprogesterone 20mg) |
| Trisequens | (Estradiol 2mg/2mg/1mg; norethisterone 1mg) |
| Utrogestan | (Micronised progesterone 100mg and 200mg) |
| Vagifem | (Estradiol 10mcg) |
| Vagirux | (Estradiol 10mcg) |
| Zumenon | (Estradiol 1mg and 2mg) |
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