An online survey of 647 pharmacists carried out by PSNC revealed that the majority (89%) are experiencing as many problems obtaining brand-name prescription drugs as they were 12 months ago.

Of the pharmacists surveyed, 66% said their patients had to be referred back to prescribers for a change in medication and 84% said their patients had gone without medicines because of delays in dispensing.

Brand-name manufacturers highlighted as being associated with supply problems included Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly UK, Lundbeck and Novartis.

In view of the lack of improvement with UK drug shortages, the PSNC praised the All-Party Pharmacy Group (APPG) for initiating its inquiry into drug shortages [1] and intends to submit evidence, including the data from this survey, to the APPG.

Health Minister Mr Simon Burns has assured parliament that the government ‘is not prepared to be complacent’ about stock shortage problems and is keeping ‘a watchful eye on the situation’.

The Minister’s claims that the best-practice guidance developed with the medicines supply chain to tackle prescription drug shortages has been ‘very successful’ have however been strongly criticised by Ms Sue Sharpe, Chief Executive of the PSNC who said ‘the guidance has not been successful – patients and pharmacists have seen no improvement in the situation.’

‘PSNC is seeking to work closely with the Department of Health and other stakeholders, including representatives of pharmaceutical wholesalers, to put a stop to the shortages’ she added.

Pharmacists organisation Chemist+Druggist are also carrying out an online 2011 stock survey, which they intend to submit to the APPG inquiry and to the Department of Health.

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Reference

1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. MPs to hold inquiry into UK drug shortages [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2011 December 16]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Pharma-News/Members-of-parliament-to-hold-inquiry-into-UK-drug-shortages