A life-saving blood pressure medication taken by millions is in short supply forcing pharmacies to ration prescriptions.
Ramipril is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure and lower the risks of strokes.
It works by relaxing and widening blood vessels to allow blood to flow more easily.
But the medication, which is taken by about 6 million people in the UK, is in critical supply and health chiefs have put the pills under a “serious shortage protocol” (SSP), which limits patients to just one month's supply of the drug until 30 October.
Pharmacists have called on the government to change official guidance so they can offer patients an alternative drug without consulting their GP.
“Millions of patients rely on Ramipril and although there are alternative medicines available, supplies of these must be managed carefully by the government to ensure subsequent demand can be met,” Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association said.
"The government should allow pharmacists to make appropriate substitutions to Ramipril prescriptions to ensure patients do not have to go back to their GP to find an alternative,” he added.
Source: The Independent, 29 July 2026
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment