Virtual Medicinal Product (VMP) Code Changes - 2023

Cegedim Healthcare Solutions has been notified of forthcoming changes to Virtual Medicinal Product (VMP) codes from SNOMED Core codes to SNOMED UK extension codes in 2023. This is essentially a terminology change that will mean VMPs of products that currently have a core SNOMED code will be updated to a UK extension code. This change will be implemented as 18 separate batches of VMP changes throughout 2023. The impact of each batch of VMP changes is that this may result in information for affected products available in Pharmacy Patient Medication Record (PMR) systems used for dispensing not matching up with that in GP Clinical systems used for prescribing until the prescribing systems have caught up with the latest available data, as utilised by the dispensing systems. 

The changes included in the latest (March) drug update being implemented in the Cegedim Rx Pharmacy Manager PMR system affect the following products:

ACICLOVIR    Vial 250mg
ACICLOVIR    Vial 500mg
FAMCICLOVIR    Tablets 125mg
FAMCICLOVIR    Tablets 250mg
GANCICLOVIR    Capsules 250mg
GANCICLOVIR    Vial 500mg
ACICLOVIR    Cream 5%
ACICLOVIR    Not Assigned 3%
VALACICLOVIR    Tablets 500mg
PENCICLOVIR    Cream 1%
ACICLOVIR    Tablets 200mg
ACICLOVIR    Tablets 400mg
ACICLOVIR    Tablets 800mg
FAMCICLOVIR    Tablets 750mg
FAMCICLOVIR    Tablets 500mg
GANCICLOVIR    Capsules 500mg
GANCICLOVIR    Gel Eye Drops 0.15%
VALGANCICLOVIR    Tablets 450mg

These changes will be included within the next Gemscript release planned to be deployed during April 2023 for availability within Vision for prescribing. We will get this Gemscript release to you as soon as we are able. In the short term, Vision users may receive queries from pharmacies regarding prescriptions that include any of these products.

Detailed information about all planned, upcoming VMP code changes, including the products included in each batch of changes along with the proposed dates of availability following publication, can be found at NHS England's website at https://digital.nhs.uk/services/terminology-and-classifications/uk-medicines-terminology-futures/changes-to-digital-terminologies/virtual-medicinal-products-changing-from-snomed-core-code-to-snomed-uk-extension