Drug shortages in the UK have reached a critical level, with a recent report by the Nuffield Trust health thinktank warning that the situation has become the “new normal” and is being exacerbated by Brexit. The report found that the number of drugs that are unavailable has more than doubled in the past year, creating serious problems for doctors, pharmacists, the NHS, and patients.
According to the report, the UK has been struggling with major shortages of drugs to treat conditions such as ADHD, type 2 diabetes, and epilepsy. Some medicine shortages are so severe that they are putting the health and lives of patients at risk, with pharmacy bosses warning of the dire consequences.
Health charities have reported a sharp rise in calls from patients unable to access their usual medication, with some individuals having to travel long distances and visit multiple pharmacies in search of their prescriptions. The situation has been described as distressing and dangerous for those who rely on life-saving medicines for their wellbeing.
Global manufacturing issues related to Covid, inflation, the war in Ukraine, and global instability have all contributed to the UK’s unprecedented inability to ensure patients can access necessary drugs. However, Brexit has significantly worsened the problem, exposing the fragility of the country’s medicines supply networks and potentially leading to a further decline in availability.
The report highlighted that the UK’s departure from the EU has disrupted the smooth supply of drugs, with customs checks at the border and the country’s decision to leave the European Medicines Agency contributing to the problem. Post-Brexit red tape has prompted some companies to stop supplying to the UK altogether, further exacerbating the shortages.
Ministers have been urged to take action to address the shortages, with suggestions including paying more for generic medicines and amending laws to allow pharmacists to provide alternative prescriptions when certain drugs are out of stock. The Department of Health and Social Care has reassured the public that the majority of drugs remain available, but the issue remains a pressing concern for healthcare professionals and patients alike.