Medicines shortages

HRT products to return earlier than expected

Supplies of some hormone replacement therapies will be resupplied earlier than expected, following a decision to fast-track their manufacture.…

GPs vote for pharmacists to have power to substitute medicines during shortages

GP representatives have voted in favour of giving pharmacists the ability to identify appropriate and available alternatives to medicines that are in short supply.…

Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee adds five medicines to list of shortages

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has added five medicine shortages to its list of notifactions from the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, bringing the total to 21 medicines shortages in the UK.…

Manufacturing problems cause 60% of medicines shortages, say European wholesalers

Manufacturing problems are causing more than 60% of medicines shortages across Europe, the body that represents European drug wholesalers has said.…

GPs to vote on giving pharmacists power to substitute medicines during shortages

GPs are set to vote on whether pharmacists should be “responsible for identifying appropriate and available alternatives” when medicines are in short supply.…

Government withdraws first serious shortage protocol for fluoxetine 10mg capsules

The government has withdrawn one of the three serious shortage protocols it introduced on 3 October 2019 in response to shortages of fluoxetine.…

Pharmacists in devolved nations can follow serious shortage protocols from 31 October 2019

Legislation enabling the use of serious shortage protocols in Scotland will come into effect from 31 October 2019, the Scottish government has said.…

Government issues first serious shortage protocols to combat shortages of fluoxetine

The government has issued the first serious shortage protocols to combat shortages of the antidepressant fluoxetine.…

More than 60% of pharmacists spend at least an hour per day on medicines shortages

Some six in ten pharmacists have said they spend at least one hour every day dealing with issues relating to medicines shortages, according to a results of a survey carried out by the Pharmacists’ Defence Association.…

More than a quarter of medicines yet to be stockpiled for no-deal Brexit

More than a quarter (28%) of medicine product lines do not have a six-week stockpile of medicines in preparation for a no-deal Brexit, according to figures given to the National Audit Office by the Department for Health and Social Care.…