The UK is at the ‘back of the queue’ when it comes to getting medicines for a health heart
UK pharmacies are facing shortages of ‘essential’ medicines (Image: Getty)
Pharmacists have sounded the alert about shortages of “essential medicines” such as aspirin as they warn manufacturers are prioritising other countries. They describe “serious and growing difficulties in obtaining key medicines”. This is because of “manufacturing delays” and “shortages of raw ingredients” as well as a reluctance to supply the UK market.
The Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) warns: “In many cases, pharmacies are simply unable to order the quantities their patients need.”
It reports that shortages of blood pressure medicines including Ramipril and Amlodipine have intensified. Meanwhile, Aspirin 75mg dispersible tablets – regularly taken to reduce the risks of a heart attack – are in “short supply”.
The IPA claims: “At the heart of the problem is pricing with medicines such as Amlodipine, costing the NHS as little as 48p, and Aspirin at around 60p, now cheaper than a packet of sweets. At these prices, manufacturers struggle to make a viable return in the UK and are choosing instead to sell to other countries where prices are higher, leaving the UK at the back of the queue.”
It states that when “limited stock becomes available then the prices shoot up to levels which becomes unaffordable for pharmacies to order and they are left severely out of pocket”.
Pharmacies are warning the “system is unsustainable” and without “urgent action” patients will pay the price “through delayed treatment, disrupted care and unnecessary anxiety”.
Labour is urged to “address the pricing pressures driving manufacturers away from the UK market”.
Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the IPA, said: “It is incredibly worrying to see shortages of essential medicines such as aspirin and blood pressure treatments appearing in pharmacies. These low stock levels are partly due to manufacturing delays, but also because pharmacies are simply unable to order the quantities they need.
“The reality is that the prices paid for many medicines by the NHS are so low that manufacturers often prioritise supplying other countries instead, leaving the UK pushed to the back of the queue. When limited stock becomes available then the price shoots up to levels which becomes unaffordable for pharmacies to order and they are left severely out of pocket.
“It is vital that the Government urgently reviews how medicines are reimbursed to pharmacies, otherwise these shortages will only worsen. In the meantime, anyone affected by a medicine shortage should speak to their local pharmacist, who is a highly trained healthcare professional and can advise on suitable alternatives where available.”
Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association. (Image: -)
A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This Government inherited ongoing global supply problems, but we have robust measures in place to mitigate disruption for patients. We are strengthening our domestic resilience further by investing up to £520million to manufacture more medicines, diagnostics, and medical technologies in the UK. We are also working closely with the NHS, regulators and other key partners to cut red tape to grow our life sciences sector and with international partners to bolster supply chains.”
