Shortage of medication for heart and stroke patients

Manx Care preserving stock due to global supply issue

Supplies of two drugs used to treat heart conditions and strokes are being conserved.

Manx Care says it’s experiencing a supply issue - with Alteplase and Tenecteplase injections - due to a global problem with availability.  

It says it’s doing everything possible to preserve its stock – including using alternative, and equally effective, drugs for certain conditions instead.

Dr Sreeman Andole, the executive medical director and stroke consultant, said: “We don’t want to alarm any members of the public – we are notifying you to ensure we are being open given the current global situation which may have an effect on the Island.

“We have looked at our use of these drugs – our current usage is low and we’re preserving stocks and using alternatives where it’s clinically safe to do so.

“This is in line with guidance provided by NHS and DHSC (UK).”

Hospital pharmacies across the UK have been directed to order the drugs in line with their allocations rather than over-ordering – Manx Care will do the same.

Alteplase and Tenecteplase are thrombolytic drugs that are solely manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim.

Tenecteplase is licensed for the management of acute myocardial infarction (MI) whilst Alteplase is licensed for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke, acute MI and acute massive pulmonary embolism with haemodynamic instability.

The manufacturer of the medication says stock levels are expected to improve in early 2023.