UK Drug Shortages Threaten Patient Safety, Pharmacists Warn

Pharmacists urge government to allow substitutions for out-of-stock medications as delays risk serious health consequences.

A survey of 500 UK pharmacies revealed all are unable to dispense at least one prescription daily due to supply shortages.
Current regulations prevent pharmacists from substituting out-of-stock medications, even when safe alternatives are available, unless a Serious Shortage Protocol is issued.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) highlights that 95% of pharmacies encounter patients daily who cannot obtain prescribed medications elsewhere.
Delays in accessing vital medications, such as blood thinners and epilepsy drugs, pose life-threatening risks, according to pharmacists and patient advocates.
Calls for regulatory changes intensified following the death of a two-year-old in January, attributed to delays in receiving antibiotics due to substitution restrictions.