Pharmacists have warned that patients are suffering due to ongoing stock shortages of over 50 branded medicines.
A third of pharmacies surveyed by Chemist and Druggist magazine said that stock issues are now beginning to affect patients directly.
Almost 90% of pharmacies polled said that they were “very concerned” by the shortage of medicines. Cases were reported of patients whose condition deteriorated while were waiting for their prescription – one patient needing admission to hospital.
Jeremy Holmes, Chief Executive of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, said: “The current supply chain relies on medicines being available within 24 to 48 hours. When this doesn’t happen it causes stress and anxiety to those affected – and it is the patients who suffer most.”
The ABPI has also called attention to the problem. The Association has published figures from IMS Health which show that there is adequate supply of the drugs that are apparently suffering a shortfall, but these are not reaching pharmacies.
The issues have been caused by parallel exporting, which is where drugs are bought in the UK but sold abroad for a profit, resulting in a shortage for UK patients. Research by IMS Health has suggested that 11% of UK pharmacies are exploiting the system in this way.
An ABPI spokesperson said: “The UK pharmaceutical industry is committed to maintaining a reliable supply of medicines, and the ABPI is working with the Department of Health, the pharmacy professional and trade bodies, the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and others, in order to find a sustainable solution.”