UK patients told ‘not to worry’ over medicine supply amid Iran war

Patients have been advised "not to worry" about medicine supply concerns despite potential links to the conflict in Iran.

While reassurances are offered, pharmacy bodies are noting early warning signs.

The Independent Pharmacies Association warned the UK faces a "perfect storm of factors exacerbating medicine shortages."

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) adds that pharmacists are seeing "evidence of escalating price rises" for medicines, a potential early warning for supply constraints.

Chief executive Dr Leyla Hannbeck said: “The UK pharmacy sector depends heavily on imports, particularly from India and China, and ongoing pressures, from rising energy costs to constrained raw ingredients from the Middle East conflict, are already disrupting supply and risk worsening shortages without decisive action.”

Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association said: “The medicine supply chain is complex and fragile and global trends and events in the Middle East have the potential to cause disruption, as it does with other products.

“We have already seen evidence in recent weeks of escalating price rises for medicines for pharmacies in the UK, as the cost of ingredients goes up, and this can be an early sign of supply pressures.

“Medicine supply issues vary from month to month, and pharmacies do all they can to ensure patients get the medicines they need."

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Source: The Independent, 31 March 2026