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.…
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.…
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.…
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”.…
Bupropion to be made available in the UK again from December 2023, says manufacturer Exclusive: GSK has told The Pharmaceutical Journal that bupropion tablets will be available “across the EU and Europe on or before the end of December 2023”.…
Uncompassionate use: the inconsistent offering of life-saving unlicensed medicines Compassionate use schemes offered by pharmaceutical companies are struggling to live up to their name, as data from a third of acute trusts reveal an inequitable provision of medicines through schemes across England.…
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…
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.…
Record number of items dispensed using serious shortage protocols during penicillin shortage Exclusive: Community pharmacists dispensed almost 13,000 items using a serious shortage protocol in December 2022, nearly double that of the previous peak.…
National patient safety alert issued for GLP-1 receptor agonists The alert warns healthcare providers not to switch between brands or double up on lower-dose preparations when the higher dose is unavailable.…