Medicines shortages

Patients must be ‘urgently’ referred back to mental health specialists if drug shortages hit, SPS warns

Patients who take medication used to treat depression should be “urgently” referred back to a mental health specialist if their supply runs out, the Specialist Pharmacy Service has warned.…

Government tenders for £3m contract for Brexit medicines express

The government has set aside £3m to transport short-life medicines and medical devices in the event of a no-deal Brexit.…

EU must investigate medicines shortages say hospital pharmacists

European hospital pharmacists are demanding that the EU launches an investigation into medicines shortages.…

More than stockpiling needed to limit disruption of no-deal Brexit, warns generics manufacturers’ body

Medicine stockpiling alone will not ensure a disruption-free no-deal Brexit, the British Generic Manufacturers Association has said.…

Pharmacists ‘unqualified’ to follow government drug-switching protocols, say legal campaigners

A legal campaign group has said pharmacists are “unqualified” to dispense alternative medicines during shortages in line with a government-issued protocol.…

Brexit is not the only reason for medicines shortages

While Brexit may not be the direct cause of worsening medicines shortages, it is distracting Westminster from giving the issue the attention it needs. …

‘Obviously pressing’ need for pharmacist drug-switching powers behind short consultation, says DHSC

The government has argued that “there was no statutory obligation” to formally consult on changes to the law allowing pharmacists to switch patients’ drugs during a medicines shortage under a government-issued protocol.…

Government sets up dedicated no-deal Brexit shipping route for medical products with ‘short lead times’

The Department of Health and Social Care has established a “dedicated shipment channel” for suppliers of medical products that need to be urgently imported to the UK from the EU after Brexit.…

No-deal Brexit will be ‘hair-raising’ for pharmacists, says chief medical officer

The prospect of medicines shortages following a no-deal Brexit on 29 March 2019 is “hair-raising” and pharmacists will be on the front line, the chief medical officer for England has said.…

Responding to disruptions in the pharmaceutical supply chain

Economic, manufacturing and regulatory factors can affect drug shortages and supply chain disruption. By using a mixed-methods approach involving an online survey, semi-structured interviews and three targeted focus groups aimed at acute care hospitals in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ir…