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MPs are calling for a national patient advisory panel as part of a series of recommendations on tackling medicines shortages in the UK.
In a report published on 8 July 2025, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pharmacy has made 12 recommendations to address the issue of shortages, including increased patient input, following an inquiry.
In one recommendation, the group recommends for a “national patient advisory panel on medicines shortages” to be created, stating that its inquiry highlighted that “economic considerations often take precedence over patient welfare”, and regulatory frameworks fail to adequately protect patient interests, “thereby exacerbating inequalities”.
“Including patient representatives in the oversight of responses to shortages would ensure that the voices of those most affected are heard at the policy level,” the report added.
Outlining how the panel could work, the APPG said it would give feedback on the impact of shortages and contribute to contingency plans, “making the system more responsive to real-world patient needs and better equipped to address inequalities in access, as repeatedly stressed during the inquiry”.
In another recommendation, the party calls for the development of “patient-centred pathways for managing shortages in local systems”, which would involve “coordinated efforts between primary care, community pharmacies and specialist services to ensure equitable access and continuity of care”.
In other recommendations, the group backed requests for pharmacists to be able to make dose and formulation substitutions during shortages, as well as for the government to commission an independent review of the UK medicines supply chain.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s medicines shortage policy urges that pharmacists should be able to make minor amendments to prescriptions in case of shortage.
In a letter sent to health secretary Wes Streeting in February 2025, a cross-party group of MPs previously requested an urgent review into medicines shortages.
Commenting on the report, Steve Race, chair of the APPG on Pharmacy, said: “Medicines shortages have moved from isolated incidents to a chronic structural challenge for both the NHS and pharmacy sector.
“As government continues to recognise and invest in the expanded clinical role of community pharmacy, we must ensure the medicines supply chain underpinning that care is equally robust, resilient and patient-focused.
“Pharmacy is central to NHS recovery and transformation, but frontline teams cannot safely expand clinical services while daily supply disruptions continue to impact the health of patients. Medicines security must be treated as a core component of NHS planning, alongside funding, workforce and digital infrastructure.”
Janet Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England (CPE), said: “The recommendations in this report echo what we have been saying for years and clearly set out what is needed to achieve real change. This is a longstanding issue that must not become the new norm. It is simply unacceptable, and without decisive action, we risk these challenges persisting for many more years to come.”
Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists’ Association, said: “We welcome this timely report by the APPG which, once again, highlights the worrying impact of shortages on patients and pharmacy teams. The report makes several sensible recommendations.
“We urgently need an end-to-end review of the medicines supply chain to ensure it is as resilient as possible, so patients can access the medicines they need, today and in the future.”
Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “As this report shows, ongoing shortages of medicine causes huge challenges for patients and pharmacies alike, and in certain cases, poses a serious risk to patient safety.”
“As the APPG says, the government must allow pharmacists — who are highly trained health care practitioners — to use their professional judgment to supply an appropriate alternative medication when the prescribed version is unavailable,” he added.
In June 2025, respondents to CPE’s pharmacy pressures survey 2025 — which included more than 1,600 pharmacy team members and owners of more than 4,300 pharmacies in England — said medicines shortages were posing a risk to patient safety.
The survey found that 73% of pharmacy staff reported risks to patient health caused by delays in accessing medicines, and 87% of respondents said that there are daily supply issues.
