Supply issues

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.…

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.…

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.…

Pharmacies told to order flu vaccines from more than one supplier to avoid shortages

The Welsh government has advised pharmacies to order flu vaccines from more than one supplier for the 2020/2021 flu season to avoid shortages.…

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.…

Adrenaline auto-injectors to be imported from Austria to mitigate supply issues

The manufacturers of an adrenaline auto-injector have been given permission to import stock from Austria following a supply issue in the UK.…

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.…

UPS one of three companies awarded government contracts for ‘express’ medicines delivery service

The delivery company UPS is one of three transport firms to be given contracts worth £25m to ensure medicines can be delivered quickly if Brexit goes ahead at the end of October 2019.…

Government spends £87m on contracts to deliver extra freight capacity for no-deal Brexit

The government has signed contracts with four transport companies worth £87m in total, which it says will help to ensure the continued supply of medicines.…