Impact of Medicine Shortages in the UK
A recent research by the Nuffield Trust health think tank revealed that medicine shortages had become a “new normal” in the United Kingdom. The impact of these shortages has been amplified by the aftermath of Brexit, posing serious problems for medical personnel, pharmacists, the NHS, and patients across the country.
Significant Rise in Shortage Warnings
According to the report, there has been a significant rise in the number of warnings issued by drug companies regarding impending supply problems. These warnings have more than doubled, from 648 in 2020 to 1,634 the previous year.
Impact on Specific Medications
Medication shortages have mainly impacted ADHD, type 2 diabetes, and epilepsy. Despite guarantees, several medications, particularly those for ADHD, remain difficult to get even after the predicted deadlines for their reintroduction into normal circulation.
Consequences for Patients
Patients with chronic illnesses are facing serious consequences due to these shortages. Nicola Swanborough from the Epilepsy Society told The Guardian, “Our helpline has been inundated with calls from desperate people who are having to travel miles, often visiting multiple pharmacies to try and access their medication.”
Paul Rees, the chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said, “Supply shortages are a real and present danger to those patients who rely on life-saving medicines for their wellbeing.”
Reasons for Medicinal Shortages
While global factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and the war in Ukraine have contributed to the drug shortages, Brexit has significantly worsened the situation. The UK’s departure from the EU has disrupted the smooth flow of medicines, leading to delays and uncertainties in drug supply chains.
“A clear picture emerged of underlying fragilities at a global and UK level, not fundamentally rooted in Brexit but exacerbated by it in some specific ways, especially through some companies removing the UK from their supply chains,” the study read.
Recommendations and Responses
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society recommended legislative reforms that would allow community pharmacists to issue alternate prescriptions when certain pharmaceuticals are unavailable.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that the majority of pharmaceuticals are still available and that concessionary pricing are not always connected to shortages.
