This site is intended for Healthcare Professionals only

medicine shortages

medicines-shortages-2025-1280-copy

APPG urges Labour to publish view on pharmacists' flexibilities to stop shortages

The All-Party Pharmacy Group wants pharmacists to supply a different strength or formulation of medicines when there are shortages.

15 Oct 2026

creon-1280

NPA: Creon and Estradot’s record as UK’s longest drugs shortages is deeply depressing

National Pharmacy Association chair Olivier Picard urged Labour to “urgently” publish the outcome of a public consultation on dispensing flexibilities.

02 Oct 2026

screenshot-2026-06-18-at-11-01-15-038440a7eef2198e87aaa2eedc0d7cdbpng-png-image-1202-901-pixels

Chronic medicine shortages pose patient safety risk, says NPA

Medicine shortages “have never been so chronic and severe”, senior health leaders have warned

18 Jun 2026

ce3d930d459d8b95ce8870fc51b159d5

Medicine shortages to get worse due to US-Iran war

The US-Iran war will exacerbate shortages further down the line, says CPE committee member, Fin McCaul

18 May 2026

olivier-picard-v2-1280

Exclusive: NPA chair lifts the lid on crippling impact of increasing medicines prices

Olivier Picard revealed he loses over £4,000 a month on one medicine alone across the four pharmacies he owns.

30 Apr 2026

supply-1280x720

CCA critical of government response on medicine security report

Response does not address how to build long term resilience in the supply chain to prevent future shortages.

21 Apr 2026

coroners-court-1280

Coroner challenges Streeting on epilepsy medication availability after tragic death

The senior coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton said there were concerns about access to medicine following the death of 58-year-old Paul Nash.

26 Mar 2026

59bb3c2c416e396a03b1d396ea07b421-width1024-encodewebp-quality80

Pharmacies remain on frontline of shortages crisis warns RPS

New report paints stark picture of continuing widespread medicines shortages, diverting pharmacists from patient-facing care.

24 Mar 2026

medicine-shortage-summary

DH must be more transparent with pharmacies, warns Lords shortages report

Government communication with pharmacies and hospitals 'unacceptable' finds Lords committee

04 Feb 2026

cpni-1280

Shortages of over 100 medicines are getting worse in Northern Ireland

Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland warned MLAs at Stormont that shortages could force pharmacies to ration supplies.

04 Feb 2026

aspirin-1280

Nearly 90 per cent of UK pharmacies unable to supply patients with aspirin

A National Pharmacy Association survey found 86 per cent of pharmacies were unable to supply aspirin over a one-week period.

26 Jan 2026

a2

‘I bought the pharmacy’s last pack of aspirin’: Staple drug added to export ban list

CPE warns 'fragile' medicines market leaves pharmacies and their patients exposed

21 Jan 2026

epilepsy-1280

Seven in 10 people with epilepsy in UK struggled to get medicine, study reveals

The survey found the medication carbamazepine was most commonly reported as being in shortage by 92.6 per cent of respondents.

28 Nov 2025

zubir-ahmed-summary

‘Additional volumes’ of pancreatic enzyme therapy sourced by DH

Unlicensed imports part of the solution until shortages ease, says Labour

29 Oct 2025

tb-capsules-summary

Supply of TB antimicrobials ‘greatly improved’ as unlicensed imports sourced

DHSC publishes details of how TB drug supplies will be managed

27 Oct 2025

medicines-shortages-2025-1280

Out of date laws leave patients waiting three weeks for medicines, warns NPA

A survey of 400 NPA members revealed patients’ health is being jeopardised by delays to drugs supply and inadequacies of The Medicines Act 1968.

16 Sep 2025

Change privacy settings