News | Medicines shortages

News

Smoking cessation medicine cytisine to be available in January 2024, distributor confirms

Exclusive: Cytisine was approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in March 2019, but no supplies have been previously available.…

Published: 14 December 2023

News

Around 85% of patients on ADHD medication have been affected by shortages, survey indicates

A survey by ADHD UK showed that 27% of respondents received no supply of their ADHD medication, 33% had faced “long gaps” and 25% had experienced “short gaps” in the supply of their drugs.…

Published: 28 November 2023

News

Medicine pricing agreement will double annual growth in cost of branded drugs sold to the NHS

Under the 'Voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth', the annual allowed rate of growth in sales will rise to 4% by 2027.…

Published: 20 November 2023

News

UK government denies levy scheme for branded medicines is causing shortages

The British Generic Manufacturers Association has argued that the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access rebate rate is a “key factor” behind a rise in shortages of branded generic medicines.…

Published: 7 November 2023

News

HRT prescribing increased by almost half in one year, NHS figures show

Data show that 10.9 million hormone replacement therapy items were prescribed in England in 2022/2023, up from 7.4 million items in 2021/2022.…

Published: 30 October 2023

News

European regulator launches ‘solidarity mechanism’ to tackle critical medicines shortages

The voluntary mechanism will allow EU member states to support each other in the event of a critical medicines shortage.…

Published: 30 October 2023

News

Medicines shortages experienced by 95% of hospital pharmacists across Europe, survey finds

Hospital pharmacists across 58 countries reported that medicines shortages had delayed or cancelled care.…

Published: 20 October 2023

News

Shortage of scabies treatment ‘likely to become a major public health issue’

The government has issued a medicine supply notification warning that permethrin 5% w/w cream will be “in limited supply until further notice due to an increase in demand”.…

Published: 13 September 2023

News

Second ADHD medication shortage leaves patients in ‘very difficult position’, pharmacists warn

A medicine supply notification warned that atomoxetine 40mg and 60mg capsules will be out of stock until September 2023…

Published: 3 August 2023

News

Pharmacy teams told to ‘urgently’ order unlicensed imports of chemotherapy drugs in shortage warning

Exclusive: A ‘Tier 3 — high impact’ alert has been issued for the platinum-based chemotherapy agents cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin.…

Published: 2 August 2023