Supply chain

Medicine shortages took an extra hour per week of pharmacist time in 2019, survey finds

Pharmacists across the EU spent an extra hour each week dealing with medicines shortages in 2019, following an increase in the number of medicines shortages compared with 2018, a survey has found.…

Confidential government documents reveal names of 209 medicine shortages in 2019

The Department of Health and Social Care reported 209 medicines shortages in 2019, over half of which occurred for three months or more, according to monthly updates sent to NHS providers.…

Accord’s phenytoin sodium 100mg capsules out of stock until early May 2020

The pharmaceutical manufacturer Accord has said that its phenytoin sodium NRIM 100mg capsules, used for the management of epilepsy, will be out of stock until early May 2020.…

Can hub-and-spoke transform medicines supply in the UK? The jury is still out

Community pharmacy’s flat funding settlement in England is linked to ‘efficiencies’ to be made through the hub-and-spoke model. With a consultation on the model on the cards for 2020, it is time to reconsider whether its benefits stack up.…

Serious shortage protocol issued for haloperidol

A serious shortage protocol for haloperidol 500 microgram capsules has been issued for England and Wales.…

Government withdraws final serious shortage protocol for fluoxetine

All serious shortage protocols for fluoxetine have now expired, meaning pharmacists will have to return to dispensing prescriptions for the medicine as they are written by the prescriber.…

Top ten features of 2019

Among our most-read features in 2019 was an investigation into whether pharmacists are dispensing too many multicompartment compliance aids, and another on why thousands of patients are being left on potentially risky drug combinations involving anticoagulants.…

EU council members suggest relocating drugs manufacturing processes to Europe

Members of the Council of the European Union have debated whether relocating medicines production back to the EU would mitigate 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.…

Generics manufacturers call for drugs manufacturing to move back to Europe from India and China

Generics manufacturers have called for European leaders to move drugs manufacturing out of India and China to provide stability to help stabilise the medicines supply chain.…