Medicines shortages

Bruce Warner: ‘Medicines shortages will never go away, but the situation can be improved’

The chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s advisory group on medicines shortages discusses the causes of medicines shortages and how the issue can be improved.…

Over 40% of people with cystic fibrosis have experienced significant health problems resulting from PERT shortage

A survey carried out by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust revealed that 20% of patients are losing weight owing to a shortage in pancreatic enzyme replacement therapies.…

Will reshoring medicines manufacturing solve shortages in the UK?

In the United States and some European countries, drug manufacturing is being brought home to mitigate shortages of critical medicines, but would similar action in the UK shore up supply resilience?…

Manufacturer confirms discontinuation of type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment Victoza

Victoza (liraglutide) 6mg/mL pre-filled injection pens have been out of stock in the UK since August 2023.…

BGMA recommends longer lead times on NHS medicines contracts to address shortages

The British Generic Manufacturers Association has made several recommendations to reduce overall medicines shortages, of which it says the “vast majority are commonly used generic medicines”.…

Pharmacy organisations sign up to ‘Medicines to Gaza’ campaign

Following on from the success of the ‘Medicines to Ukraine’ model, which raised £4.5m, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association announced the new Gaza scheme at the International Pharmaceutical Federation Congress in Cape Town on 3 September 2024.…

Martin Sawer: ‘NHS hospitals owe wholesalers millions of pounds in overdue invoices’

Here, Martin Sawer, executive director of the Healthcare Distribution Association, explains how wholesalers are part of the ‘critical infrastructure’ of UK healthcare, but the industry faces several challenges.…

One-third of adult social care providers say medicines support from community pharmacy has improved over past year

Respondents to the Care Quality Commission survey said they typically received advice from community pharmacy on medicines side effects, over-the-counter medicine and safe medicines administration.…

Seven in ten pharmacists say medicines shortages have put patients at risk in past six months

Exclusive: Responding to a survey of 1,265 UK-based pharmacists working in all sectors, 861 answered ‘Yes’ when asked if medicines shortages have put patients at risk “in the past six months”.…

Residents lodge complaint with ICB after proposal to reopen a closed pharmacy is rejected

Despite more than 900 signatures petitioning to keep it open, the former Boots on Southmead Road in Bristol closed in January 2024.…