Medicine Shortages in England Impact Patients and Pharmacies

Patients in England are reporting challenges in accessing certain medications needed for managing chronic conditions. Individuals with epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, heart conditions, stroke risks, eye infections, bipolar disorder, and ADHD are among those affected.

Supply disruptions have led to instances where pharmacies cannot fulfill prescriptions. Chloe, a 29-year-old with epilepsy, stated that she has been unable to obtain her Lamotrigine-based medication recently. She reported experiencing seizures after not accessing the drug, resulting in a fall and injury.

Chloe described making multiple trips to different pharmacies to find the medication.

Shortages stem from rising global prices for medicines, influenced by increased energy and transport costs. Many drugs rely on oil-based ingredients, which have become more expensive. Manufacturers have indicated that low prices make distribution unviable in some cases, leading to reduced supplies and higher wholesale costs for pharmacies.

The NHS reimburses pharmacies at fixed prices for dispensed medications. When market prices exceed these rates, drugs are added to a government price concessions list, allowing adjusted reimbursements. In April, this list reached 210 medications, the highest number recorded.

However, sudden price spikes can exceed even concession rates, causing pharmacies to dispense at a loss. This situation discourages stocking adequate supplies, increasing the likelihood of shortages for patients.

Akash Patel, a pharmacist in Shepperton, Surrey, reported that his pharmacy incurs losses on certain drugs, such as a nearly £9 shortfall on one epilepsy prescription. To minimize losses, pharmacies stock lower quantities of affected medications. Since 2017, 1,500 pharmacies in England have closed, with 27 closures this year, reducing the total to the lowest in 20 years.

Chris Henry, 49, who has Parkinson's disease, takes Co Careldopa and expressed concern about potential shortages affecting his ability to manage symptoms and maintain daily activities. The Epilepsy Society reported three deaths in the last two years where lack of medication contributed.

Pharmacists, including those from the Independent Pharmacies Association and National Pharmacy Association, have called for reforms to the reimbursement system to respond faster to price changes.

Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, stated that members are struggling to afford supplies and often dispense at a loss. The association requested that medicines supply be added to the National Risk Register, but has not received a response.

Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said his pharmacy loses money on over 300 medications, including blood thinners, blood pressure drugs, and painkillers. He noted that the current system results in low prices that backfire by causing shortages.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated that the vast majority of licensed medicines are in good supply. The department reported working to maintain supplies and having processes to adjust reimbursement prices based on market conditions.

Government spending on medicines in the UK represents a lower proportion of health budgets per patient compared to countries like France and Germany. This can lead manufacturers to prioritize markets with higher returns during restricted supplies. He indicated that rising costs from global factors, including oil prices, are expected to further impact supplies, though stockpiling is not feasible due to cash flow constraints.