"In order to mitigate the stock out of the medication containing colchicine, Colchicine, 1 mg, tablets, 20 units, registration number 9949610, Infarmed has authorised, on an exceptional basis," its labelling in French, the drug authority stated in an informational circular published on its website.

According to Infarmed, these packages will be accompanied by an information leaflet in Portuguese.

They emphasise that, to facilitate access to the medication, "the registration number, price, and co-payment by the National Health Service for this form will be the same as the medication authorised in Portugal, so prescriptions and dispensing can occur as usual."

For each dispensing procedure, pharmacies must dispense a maximum of one blister pack of Colchicine Opocalcium 1 mg per user until regular market supply returns to normal.