Drugs worst GPs and pharmacists have ever seen
Drug shortages are affecting supplies of painkillers, blood pressure medication and drugs to manage epilepsy.
There's a warning that drug shortages are some of the worst GPs and pharmacists have ever seen.
The lack of medicines available for some conditions is a serious risk to patient safety, according to The National Pharmacy Association (NPA).
Calls for pharmacists to be able to make changes to prescriptions when a medicine is unavailable, and to dispense a safe alternative are being backed by The Royal College of GPs (RCGP).
What drugs are affected?
Drug shortages in recent months include commonly dispensed medicines such as painkillers, blood pressure medication and drugs to manage epilepsy, according to the NPA.
Ramipril high blood pressure drug is one of those affected, together with prescription co-codamol and some strengths of low-dose aspirin.
There are also ongoing shortages of Creon, which helps people with conditions including cystic fibrosis and pancreatic cancer digest food.
There has been a long-term Europe-wide shortage of this drug, with patients describing how they have rationed Creon pills or chosen to eat less to make packs last longer.
According to the European Medicines Agency, the company that produces Creon is experiencing limitations in production capacity, coupled with high demand, which may go on well into 2027.
Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs), which are used in the UK to describe shortages and allow alternatives to be prescribed, are also in place for Estradot, a form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal symptoms.
SSPs have been in place for Creon since May 2024 and have been extended until at least July, running for more than two years, a new record.
Estradot has had an SSP in place since December 2024, which is another record, according to the NPA.
"Most amount of shortages I have known for the past 30 years”
A survey by the group, which represents around 6,000 independent community pharmacies in the UK, found 96% of pharmacies felt the situation posed a serious risk to the safety of their patients.
Some 83% of pharmacy teams have faced abuse or anger from patients due to a prescribed medicine being unavailable.
One pharmacist said they were “experiencing the most amount of shortages I have known for the past 30 years”.
The NPA now wants the Government to convene an urgent taskforce including manufacturers, wholesalers and clinicians.
Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, said medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients.
“These shortages are some of the most severe the UK has experienced,” he said.
“Our medicines market has never been so volatile, with patients and primary care colleagues at the sharp end of events outside of their control.
“It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success.
“Although medicine shortages are frustrating and worrying, we are clear that in some instances they pose a serious risk to patient safety.
“Pharmacies spend significant time hunting stock and liaising with GP teams when they should be getting on with caring for their patients.
“We’re urging the Government to convene an emergency taskforce to bring together all parts of the supply chain to tackle this issue.
“As well as this, the Government should amend legislation that prevents pharmacies from making simple substitutions to a prescription, where a safe alternative is in stock.”
Medicine shortages "frustrating"
Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, president of the RCGP, said: “Medicine shortages can be frustrating for patients, GPs and pharmacists alike, especially when patients have to endure lots of back and forth to acquire a suitable alternative.
“At a time when GPs and pharmacists are working under significant pressures, medicine shortages only add to this.
“With appropriate safeguards in place, the college is supportive of pharmacists being able to make limited changes to prescriptions when a medicine is unavailable and a safe, clinically appropriate alternative is available within agreed prescribing guidance.
“We would also support systems that enable timely communication between pharmacists and GP practices when shortages arise, without creating unnecessary administrative burden.
“The most important thing is that patients are able to access the medication they need safely and without delay.
“More widely, it’s essential that when shortages occur, the underlying causes are quickly identified and resolved.”