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Medicine Shortage Crisis Sees Clamour for Department of Health to Investigate

on Tuesday, 03 July 2018.

Sir Kevin Barron MP, the Chair of the Parliamentary All Party Pharmacy Group, has called for Steve Brine, the Health Minister, to urgently investigate medicine supply shortages.

Pharmacists have complained that they have been unable to obtain stock, or sometimes they can only obtain them at too-high prices. A number of factors appear to be at play.

In some instances, there are manufacturing problems. Mylan has warned pharmacists and patients about shortages to EpiPens, and rationing their distribution. It has said it would deliver EpiPens to pharmacies "as shipments arrive". Mylan said the cause was supply problems from Pfizer, its supplier, and the two companies were working together to find a solution.

Meanwhile, failed regulatory inspections have been a factor. As a result, supply issues have affected the ability to obtain certain generic medicines. Supply shortage problems were exacerbated after a couple of major companies had their licences suspended last year following inspections from the regulators. The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) subsequently held urgent discussions with the Department of Health about what it called the "catastrophic" effect of generics shortages.

Pharmacists are also concerned that suppliers may be withholding stock in the UK to seek higher prices from supplies, following concerns that stock being supplied in a comparatively cheaper UK market were being sold at a profit overseas. The weak pound has played a role in this.

Mike Dent, from the PSNC, commented: "Pharmacy teams are experiencing very great difficulties in sourcing a large number of products. Mostly this means pharmacies are paying many times more than a drug's usual price to obtain what little stock is available."

Warwick Smith, Director of the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA), said: "We've gone through a perfect storm. With two scale manufacturers no longer providing most of their products, that takes capacity out of the market. Other suppliers have been responding, but by filling the gap prices have gone up. The weak pound has also had an impact."

He agreed that generics manufacturers see Britain as a less attractive market than its European rivals. He added: "The UK is one of the lowest-priced markets in Europe. If you supply a drug that's twice the price in France you might worry about satisfying French demand more quickly." However, he emphasised there were no signs of firms stopping supply to Britain or reducing it.

Drugs to treat prostate cancer, epilepsy and heart failure have been among those in short supply.


If you have experienced problems due to medicines shortages, please contact Paul Gershlick in our Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences team on 01923 919 320.

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