Sinemet shortage campaign

In January 2011 MSD UK announced that they are now 'supplying at pre-shortage levels' of all variations of Sinemet. Read their Sinemet update letter (Word, 35KB). This is welcome news. And we hope that those affected can now look ahead to 2011 and no longer worry about availability of essential medication.

In 2010 a shortage of Parkinson's drug Sinemet, caused anxiety and deep distress for people who are already trying to cope with the impact of Parkinson's.

If you're still having problems getting hold of Sinemet, we'd like to hear from you. Email our Campaigns team at campaigns@parkinsons.org.uk

What we asked MSD UK to do during the shortage

• Take greater responsibility for communication with people with Parkinson's including taking part in the online questions and answers forum session.
• Clarify how they are managing the supply of Sinemet, how supplies will be released and where they will be sent to.
• Ensure that pharmacists are clear about the new way that MSD UK is distributing Sinemet through a single wholesaler.

MSD UK's response

• MSD UK acknowledged that they have not done enough to communicate with people with Parkinson's.
• They agreed to take part in the Q&A on our forum and wrote an article in the autumn 2010 edition of our members' magazine, The Parkinson.
• They have agreed that they will revisit their communication routes with health professionals.

What we have done

• We initially contacted MSD UK for more information.
• As the calls to our helpline increased, we put information about the shortage on our website to inform people with Parkinson's and professionals.
• We launched a campaign action to ask people affected by the shortage to contact MSD UK directly about the effects of the shortage.
• In partnership with the British Geriatric Society Movement Disorders Section and the Parkinson's Disease Nurse Specialist Association (PDNSA), we contacted MSD UK again to ask for direct communication with people with Parkinson's. This included an invitation to do an online questions and answers session on our forum.
• We invited MSD UK to use our online forum to 'speak' directly to people affected by Parkinson's.
• We contacted the Department of Health to ask them what they are doing about the shortage. Read the Department of Health statement about the shortage, which they provided in response.
• We contacted the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to ask them what they are doing about the shortage of Sinemet. Read the MHRA's statement about the shortage, which they provided in response.
• We have supported a number of our members to contact their MPs, and have provided information and assistance to interested MPs and Lords to raise the issue in Parliament.

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