Medicine shortages double in three years

MEDICINE shortages in Britain have more than doubled in three years, amid a “shock rise” in global supply problems, a report warns.

Experts said global supply chains were “broken” and that patients’ lives were being put at risk by shortages of vital medicines. They added that shortages of medication had now become “commonplace”.

The report by think tank the Nuffield Trust shows 1,634 alerts issued last year warning of impending drug shortages – up from 648 in 2020.

Antibiotics, medicines for epilepsy and hormone replacement therapy are among the areas worst hit.

Fragile chains of imports from Asia, squeezed by Covid-19 shutdowns, inflation and global instability are said to have fuelled the problems, with key ingredients often subject to shortages. The report found that Brexit had not caused the shortages. However, researchers said it was likely to significantly weaken the UK’S ability to respond, by splitting it from European supply chains, authorisations and collective efforts to respond to shortages.

The report warns of “worrying shortages” of key medications for epilepsy.

Charity Epilepsy Action reported five times as many calls in early 2024 as a year earlier, amid shortages of the medications carbamazepine, sodium valproate and lamotrigine.

Other shortages have been fuelled by demand, with a 40 per cent rise in prescribing of HRT in 2021-22 leading to treatments being repeatedly rationed.

Paul Rees, of the National Pharmacy Association, said medicine shortages have become commonplace, which is “totally unacceptable”. He said: “Supply shortages are a real danger to patients who rely on life-saving medicines for their wellbeing. Ensuring an adequate supply of medicines is surely a basic function of any modern health system.

“The solutions have to be international as well as national, but our own Government needs to create the conditions for enough medicines to flow into and around the UK system, by properly funding the supply chain at both ends.”

Louise Ansari, of Healthwatch England, which represents patients, said: “We are calling on the Government to carry out a review of the supply chain to ensure medicine safety and resilience.

“Government and NHS England should better communicate serious shortage protocols to GP and pharmacy staff, and patients should be kept informed about shortages, and be given clear advice on what to do if they can’t get their medication.”