Medicine shortages show broken system, pharmacists warn

The system for sourcing medicines in England is broken and needs a fundamental overhaul to prevent shortages, senior pharmacists have told MPs.

They were giving evidence at the first session of an inquiry by the Commons Health and Social Care Committee, which is exploring issues largely affecting community, primary care, and hospital pharmacy services.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, told MPs that shortages of antibiotics, hormone replacement therapy, and medicines to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder over the past few years were symptomatic of "a real problem". Pharmacists constantly find that "medicines come on the market and then, all of a sudden as soon as the demand goes a little bit up, they are no longer available," she explained.

She told the inquiry: "That indicates that something in the system is not right."

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Source: Medscape, 22 November 2023