Pharmacists are warning that an unprecedented shortage of medication in the NHS is putting lives at risk. Newly released data shows that the availability of essential medicines has increased by 100% in the past two years.
On Wednesday, the UK drugs shortage list was updated to include a new treatment for managing epileptic seizures. This list encompasses treatments for a wide range of conditions, including cancer, schizophrenia, and type 2 diabetes.
Possible rewording: The reasons behind the crisis are believed to involve the decline in the pound’s purchasing power since the Brexit vote, which limits the NHS’s ability to acquire medications from overseas, and the government’s practice of taxing manufacturers.
Based on data from the British Generic Manufacturers Association, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) reported that there were 111 medications on the shortage list as of October 30th of last year and 96 on December 18th. Additionally, 10 treatments have been notified to NHS providers in the UK since then.
The shortages for January 2022 have doubled, according to pharmacists and health charities, leading to worsening conditions for some patients.
Over the last year, Breast Cancer Now’s chief executive Delyth Morgan has received reports from multiple patients who were unable to obtain necessary medication to manage the advancement of their illness.
She stated that last year, numerous individuals reached out to us through Breast Cancer Now’s helpline, expressing their struggles in obtaining hormone treatment such as letrozole, anastrozole, and tamoxifen. This has caused them great distress and anxiety. The extra challenge of having to search for treatment by visiting multiple pharmacies only adds to the burden for patients during an already challenging period.
Occasionally, certain drug brands may be unavailable, requiring individuals to switch to a different brand or medication. In the worst scenario, there may be a period of time without the necessary medication, which could potentially decrease the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence or spread.
According to Douglas Twenefour, the director of care at Diabetes UK, the continuous lack of availability of GLP-1 medications is causing significant problems for individuals with type 2 diabetes and remains a major issue. As these shortages are expected to continue for the remainder of the year, this will greatly affect whether or not those with type 2 diabetes can receive the most suitable treatment for their condition.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and disruptions in global supply chains have had a widespread impact on the availability of drugs in several European countries. There are concerns about potential market instability due to the recent violence in the Red Sea, which is an important shipping route for essential ingredients.
The European Union, from which the UK has withdrawn, recently made a decision to establish a reserve for essential medications and to support greater domestic manufacturing.
There is evidence of shortages in hormone replacement therapy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder products, likely caused by increased demand.
The head of Community Pharmacy England, Janet Morrison, expressed that the current shortages are unlike anything seen before and are negatively impacting patients. She stated, “Pharmacy staff have been facing difficulties in obtaining prescription medications for several months, but the issue has escalated to a new level.”
Unfortunately, it has become increasingly common for a large number of medications to be impacted by pricing and other concerns on a monthly basis. As a result, pharmacies are now faced with daily struggles related to these issues. In fact, pharmacies are having to dedicate an additional 11 hours per week on average to locating the necessary medications for their patients.
“This all causes worrying delays for patients, and in worst cases it can lead to a deterioration of their health: last year we surveyed people working in pharmacies and 87% told us that their patients’ health was being put at risk due to medicine supply issues. This is shocking, and government and the NHS must step in to resolve these issues.”
The NHS is facing a growing need to offer price adjustments for products, in which it consents to providing higher reimbursements to pharmacists, as a result of sudden increases in demand and market costs.
152 concessions were recorded in December 2023, a significant increase from the 20 recorded in June 2016. This was the same month as the Brexit referendum, which caused the value of the UK’s currency, the sterling, to decrease.
Some people are worried that a decision by the government to restrict how much money the NHS can spend on brand-name medicines is causing the pharmaceutical industry to be less willing to invest in providing medications to the UK. Each year, there is a limit on how much money can be made from selling branded medicines to the NHS, and this limit increases by 2% annually.
After consulting with the pharmaceutical industry, a cap of 4% has been implemented for the next five years. Any sales of medication exceeding this limit will be subject to a levy imposed on companies’ revenue, with the funds being returned to the government.
Morrison stated that the government was not adequately investing in the supply of drugs.
She stated that offering lower prices is an indication that companies are unable or unwilling to provide a certain type of medicine at the previously estimated price. While this demonstrates a response from the system, it also reveals the strain that leads to disruptions and shortages.
According to Mark Dayan, who leads the Brexit programme at the Nuffield Trust, there is proof that medical imports from the EU have decreased since Brexit. This indicates that companies have likely adjusted their supply chains, potentially making the UK more vulnerable to supply problems.
According to him, the UK has faced increased pressures on drug prices since 2016, likely due to the Brexit referendum causing a decline in the value of the pound.
A system for reclaiming money from companies in cases of excessive sales resulted in cost savings for the NHS, but also decreased the motivation to promote branded products in this market.
Over the past two years, not being a part of the single market has led to increased expenses at the EU border, causing a decrease in goods entering the country.
A representative from DHSC stated that there are various factors that could cause a shortage of certain medications, including problems with production, availability of ingredients, unexpected increases in demand, or challenges with distribution.
The department has established protocols for handling these matters and collaborates closely with industry, the NHS, and other entities to prevent shortages and quickly solve any issues that may arise.
This involves collaborating closely with the NHS to assist in implementing proposed strategies to minimize the impact of the shortage on patients.
Source: theguardian.com
