Medicines shortages

Medicines shortages affect almost a quarter of patients, patient group report shows

Research shows 24% of patients experienced their pharmacy not having stock of their medicine in the previous 12 months.…

EMA may ask manufacturers to increase production capacity in response to medicines shortages

The European Medicines Agency has published a list of new recommendations to be implemented on a case-by-case basis, depending on vulnerabilities in the supply chain.…

Medicines shortages and slow approvals put ‘significant burden’ on pharmacists, says report

A report by The Nuffield Trust has concluded that medicines shortages have been exacerbated in the UK following Brexit and that approvals are typically slower in Great Britain compared with the EU.…

An ‘Argos’ model could give patients the access to medicines they deserve

Medicine shortages have been an ongoing issue for several years, but Liz Breen argues that lessons in transparent supply chains, learned from practices in Spain and Sweden, could alleviate pressures in the UK.…

Government and NHS England set up clinical reference group to deal with forthcoming shortage of Pabrinex

A medicine supply notification advised NHS trusts to locate and consolidate their current Pabrinex stock, which is likely to be out of stock from August 2024 until September 2025.…

‘Providing more leeway to pharmacists’ an obvious solution to medicines shortages, says pharmacy minister

In an exclusive interview withThe Pharmaceutical Journal, Andrea Leadsom acknowledged that medicines shortages were causing “friction in the system”.…

Medicines shortages reported to government increase by almost 70% since 2021

Exclusive: The government logged 137 reports of medicines shortages on average each month in 2023, compared with an average of 82 each month in 2021.…

Patient safety alert warns of salbutamol nebuliser liquid shortages with no date for resupply

An alert says that while alternative nebuliser liquids are available, manufacturers cannot support the increase in demand.…

Paul Rees: ‘Pharmacy First could be the saviour of general practice’

The National Pharmacy Association’s new chief executive sets out what needs to change to address the ‘urgent crisis’ unfolding in community pharmacy.…

GLP-1 receptor agonist shortage expected to continue for all of 2024

In a national patient safety alert, the Department of Health and Social Care advised switching patients on Byetta and Victoza to Rybelsus, and to provide appropriate counselling with any changes.…