News Government receives notification of more than 3,000 medicine supply issues under new scheme A total of 1,700 shortages and 1,500 drug discontinuations were reported to the government between October 2020 and March 2022.…Published: 18 August 2022
News Pharmacies face restrictions on ordering chicken pox vaccine amid supply shortages Wholesalers have implemented ordering quotas for Varivax and Varilrix vaccines owing to limited supplies.…Published: 16 August 2022
News More than half of pharmacists warn medicine shortages have risked patient safety in the past six months Exclusive: Results from The Pharmaceutical Journal’s annual salary and job satisfaction survey show that 54% of UK-based pharmacists said medicines shortages have put patients at risk in the past six months.…Published: 11 August 2022
News Government warns hospital trusts to conserve stock of some thrombolytic drugs amid shortages Boehringer Ingelheim, which is the sole manufacturer of alteplase and tenecteplase injections, has said "manufacturing constraints" are affecting global supply of the medicines.…Published: 5 August 2022
News Alendronic acid shortage is contributing to medication errors, warn pharmacists Exclusive: Pharmacists say switching patients' medication as a result of the alendronic acid shortage is affecting concordance and potentially causing harm.…Published: 2 August 2022
News Discontinuation of antidepressant could affect tapering patients, say experts Exclusive: Paroxetine 20mg/10mL oral suspension is being discontinued, but experts have highlighted how these liquid formulations of antidepressants are "essential" for successfully tapering patients.…Published: 27 July 2022
News Pharmacy negotiator tells government it is ‘increasingly concerned’ over medicines supply The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee said that many pharmacies were in a "critical situation" trying to source medicines in a timely manner.…Published: 26 July 2022
News Government-funded medicines freight service worth £1.2m used by four suppliers Exclusive: In response to a Freedom of Information request, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that four suppliers had used the freight service a combined total of 22 times since it was announced in November 2021.…Published: 12 July 2022
News Diamorphine shortage causing former heroin users to relapse for first time in a decade, charities warn With all strengths of diamorphine injections currently out of stock, charities have said patients are returning to using heroin.…Published: 17 June 2022
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