Pharmacy leaders are demanding urgent action to address significant delays in dispensing medication, often caused by widespread shortages.
Under current regulations, pharmacists cannot modify prescriptions, even when stock issues arise.
This restrictive framework means pharmacists cannot offer practical alternatives, such as substituting tablets for capsules, or providing two 10mg doses instead of a single 20mg tablet.
Consequently, patients are frequently forced to visit multiple pharmacies or return to their GP for a new prescription to secure available medication.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has highlighted that these limitations can leave individuals waiting weeks for essential medicines.
The organisation attributes the problem to outdated legislation, which it says prevents pharmacists from supplying suitable alternatives.
The National Pharmacy Association is calling on the Government to change the laws, which have been in place since 1968, to allow pharmacists to make substitutions where a medicine is not in stock, but a safe alternative is.
Source: The Independent, 16 September 2025
Related reading on the hub:
- All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy inquiry into medicines shortages in England
- Medication supply issues: A pharmacist’s perspective
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