Proposal to withdraw Betadine Aqueous solution

The College has received a number of expressions of concerns from members and from hospital pharmacies about the proposal to withdraw Betadine Aqueous solution from the market because of the difficulty of sourcing suitable alternative solutions for disinfection prior to ophthalmic surgical procedures. Molnlycke, the manufacturer of Betadine Aqueous solution, has indicated that it may be willing to continue manufacture if there is sufficient demand from the NHS. The College is making representations to Molnycke, pointing out that over 300,000 cataract operations and many other ocular procedures are carried out in the UK each year and that the demands for Betadine Aqueous solution is unlikely to diminish. We hope that Molnlycke may be persuaded to continue manufacturing Betadine Aqueous solution.

Richard Smith, Chairman of the Professional Standards Committee
March 2007