News | Medicines shortages

News

Three-quarters of pharmacists say patient safety is at risk from medicine delays

Responding to Community Pharmacy England’s pharmacy pressures survey, 87% of pharmacy staff also reported daily problems arising from supply issues, up from 67% in 2022.…

Published: 30 June 2025

News

Pharmacy bodies warn that demand for weight-loss drug will outstrip supply

Around 220,000 patients could be prescribed Mounjaro in the first three years of the drug's availability to NHS patients in England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has estimated.…

Published: 24 June 2025

Opinion

Share your experience: tell us about your salary and working conditions

Calling all pharmacists! Please take part in our short survey, which should take no more than ten minutes to complete.…

Published: 1 May 2025

News

Medicines pricing system creating ‘false economy’ that drives shortages, says CCA report

A report published by the Company Chemists’ Association found that the number of price concessions granted for generic medicines increased by over 740% from 2015 to 2024.…

Published: 24 March 2025

News

Pharmacists asked to assist in switching patients from Promixin by end of April 2025

A national patient safety alert advises that Colicym 1-million-unit power for nebuliser solution unit dose vials should be considered as an alternative treatment.…

Published: 21 March 2025

News

Fewer people reporting problems obtaining prescriptions in England, show ONS data

Survey results have revealed that 88.1% of patients said they experienced no issues accessing medicines from their pharmacy in January 2025, compared with 79.9% in August 2024.…

Published: 10 March 2025

News

MPs call for urgent review into medicines shortages

A letter from 45 cross-party MPs has urged the government to look into medicines shortages to ensure patients have their “life-saving medications”.…

Published: 27 February 2025

News

Almost 400,000 patients unable to get prescriptions from their local pharmacy, analysis reveals

The Liberal Democrats have urged the government to take steps to address cost increases that are affecting medicines access and struggling pharmacies.…

Published: 24 February 2025

News

More than half of pharmacy staff struggle with mental health over medicines shortages, reveals survey

Respondents to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Workforce Wellbeing Survey also cited inadequate staffing, lack of work–life balance and increased financial pressures as factors that negatively impact their mental health.…

Published: 18 February 2025

News

‘Confusing blur’ between genuine medicines shortages and procurement issues, says wholesalers trade body

Speaking at the Healthcare Distribution Association annual conference, executive director Martin Sawer explained that medicines shortages were not always a result of “genuine pharmaceutical unavailability” but could be caused by incentives in medicines procurement.…

Published: 29 January 2025