Information and remedies for healthcare professionals during medicine shortages

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Pharmacists play an important role when a medicine shortage arises and are often in the position of informing patients about the shortage and possible remedies. The Icelandic Medicines Agency (IMA) maintains records of medicine shortages reported by pharmaceutical companies and issues recommendations to pharmacists and healthcare professionals in the Medicinal Product Information Catalogue (Sérlyfjaskrá), www.lyf.is.

Information on medicine shortages in Sérlyfjaskrá

All information published by IMA on medicine shortages is available in Sérlyfjaskrá.

IMA maintains a list of all medicines in shortage. These medicines are specially marked and are accompanied by more detailed information on the shortage.

All information on medicine shortages is displayed in one place to simplify the process for patients, doctors and pharmacy staff. Users can also use the search in Sérlyfjaskrá to see whether a specific medicine is marked.

Medicine shortage card in Sérlyfjaskrá

Clicking on the medicine shortage card/label displays detailed information on the medicine shortage:

When the pharmaceutical company expects the shortage to begin
When the pharmaceutical company expects it to end
When the pharmaceutical company reported the shortage to IMA
The reason for the shortage given by the pharmaceutical company
An article about the medicine shortage, if one has been published
IMA's advice on which remedies are available, for example the name of an exempt medicine that replaces the medicine in shortage and which wholesaler imports it
Information on whether IMA has authorised pharmacists in pharmacies to change a doctor's prescription for a medicine in shortage to an exempt medicine, and if so, which exempt medicine.

Web service for doctors' prescribing systems

IMA offers to share all of the above information displayed in the Medicinal Product Information in doctors' prescribing systems through a web service.

The recommendations issued by IMA in connection with shortages of specific medicinal products are also displayed there, i.e. whether a medicinal product in shortage can be prescribed and the matter resolved at the pharmacy, or whether another medicinal product needs to be prescribed because of the shortage.

There can be considerable benefit in doctors seeing this information on medicine shortages when prescribing the medicinal products, as it reduces the burden on the healthcare system and patients. This significantly reduces the likelihood of a patient leaving the pharmacy empty-handed and having to go back to the doctor for a new prescription.

Doctors using prescribing systems that do not read shortage information from IMA can go to lyf.is (Sérlyfjaskrá) and access comparable information.

Pharmacists' authorisation to change prescriptions to exempt medicines

Sérlyfjaskrá also contains a list of all medicinal products for which IMA has authorised pharmacists to substitute an exempt medicine.

List of current authorisations for pharmacists to substitute exempt medicines

The authorisation for pharmacists to change prescriptions to an exempt medicine remains valid for the duration of the medicine shortage and for one additional week, to ensure that the medicinal product has reached all regions of the country.

When using this authorisation, pharmacists shall inform patients that the medicinal product is not marketed in Iceland and is therefore in foreign packaging. In addition, possible adverse reactions of the medicinal product and other information that may be necessary for its use shall be explained.

This authorisation applies only to prescriptions from a doctor; the exempt medicine may not be dispensed over the counter.

Pharmaceutical companies' lists of medicine shortages

The following is a list of companies authorised to import and/or distribute medicinal products wholesale in Iceland. Further information on the expected arrival of medicinal products in shortage can be found on each company's backorder list.

List of companies with a wholesale distribution licence

Service provider

Icelandic Medicines Agency