News | Medicines shortages

Feature

Hormone replacement therapy shortages: will the government’s new approach work?

There are severe shortages of several hormone replacement therapy products at the moment. Here, we examine whether the government is doing enough to rectify the problems.…

Published: 23 May 2022

News

HRT supply may have been impacted by ‘commercial decisions’, says government

Along with rising demand, factors related to manufacturing, capacity constraints and commercial decisions may have impacted the supply of hormone replacement therapy, the Department of Health and Social Care has said.…

Published: 6 May 2022

News

Pharmacists can limit some HRT supplies to three months, says government

Serious shortage protocols have been issued for some hormone replacement therapy products, which will allow pharmacists to place three-month limits on prescriptions to mitigate supply issues.…

Published: 3 May 2022

News

HRT shortages made worse by long-term prescribing, says PSNC

Exclusive: Mike Dent, director of pharmacy funding at the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, said that demand for HRT prescriptions is outstripping supply more than previously, following the announcement of changes to prescription charges.…

Published: 25 April 2022

News

Majority of pharmacy owners report significant spike in medicine supply problems

The "distressing" Pharmacy Services Negotiating Committee survey results also reveal that temporary closures caused by staff shortages equated to more than 844 days of closures.…

Published: 25 April 2022

News

Spike in price concessions prompts concern over generic medicine supply issues

Exclusive: As the number of price concessions for generic drugs soared in January 2022, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committees has raised concerns with the government over supply issues.…

Published: 8 February 2022

News

UK government presses ahead with generics reimbursement reforms, despite shortage fears

Industry bodies have warned that the changes could "lead to constraints on supply".…

Published: 11 November 2021

Feature

Will ranitidine ever make a comeback? (audio)

We take a closer look at why all licenses for ranitidine were suspended and ask whether it is likely to ever make a comeback.…

Published: 1 October 2021

News

Cost of sertraline has increased by more than 500% since 2019, figures show

Despite the number of items of sertraline dispensed increasing by 12% in 2020/2021, the cost increased by £142m, NHS data show.…

Published: 14 June 2021

News

Shortages of alternatives to ranitidine could be putting patients at risk

Pharmacists have reported supply issues with the recommended alternatives to ranitidine, which has been suspended owing to the presence of the contaminant N-Nitrosodimethylamine.…

Published: 6 April 2021