Medication replacement eight times more expensive for Health Department

Thursday 07 November 2019

One of the replacements for medication used to treat over 1,700 islanders for stomach ulcers and acid reflux that was recently quarantined following contamination from a cancer-causing substance, is eight times more expensive than the recalled drug.

According to figures by the Pharmaceutical Benefit Advisory Committee (PBAC), replacing ranitidine with nizatidine could cost upwards of an extra £35,000.

The unexpected change comes at a time when the Health Department has trying to save money by switching to generic medication brands as part of the government's 'Efficiencies Programme', which underpins the Government Plan.

Ranitidine recently became unavailable after a contaminant - believed to be a carcinogen - was discovered by regulators within a supply of the drug.

The news came after popular heartburn drug Zantac was recalled in Canada and France. US authorities also called for Zantac to be pulled off pharmacy and store shelves as they began further investigations into its potential links to cancer last month. 

On 15 October, the Department of Health and Social Care in England issue a ‘Supply Disruption Alert’, advising that ranitidine would not be available until further notice. 

Pictured: 1,700 islanders take ranitidine for stomach ulcers and acid reflux.

Local health officials reassured that the drug was "quarantined at the time of production and has not made it into general circulation", noting that local doctors and pharmacists had been "notified of the issue and given guidance on how to manage the shortage". 

They also maintained at the time that "alternatives are available" for regular ranitidine users, who were advised to contact their GPs for review. 

"Some patients who have been taking the drug for a long time may be able to stop taking a medicine altogether, while others may be able to be prescribed an alternative drug," a statement read.

Alternatives such as omeprazole or lansoprazole can already be prescribed in cases where ongoing treatment is required at the same cost as ranitidine.

Pictured: Alternatives for ranitidine include omeprazole or lansoprazole.

PBAC has however voted to add nizatidine – an alternative drug produced by the same therapeutic group as ranitidine - to the list following recommendations from its members.

Nizatidine is around eight times more expensive that ranitidine. It will be available as “one of a number of alternatives to ranitidine while it is out of stock".

It is expected that if just one quarter of patients currently taking ranitidine switch to nizatidine, it will cost the Health Department an extra £35,000 per year.