Pharmacists warn shortages of certain drugs are putting patients at risk.
A poll of 1,562 UK pharmacists for the Pharmaceutical Journal found that more than half (54%) believe patients have been in danger in the past six months due to drug shortages.
Some patients have had difficulty accessing certain medications in recent months, sometimes having to visit multiple pharmacies to find a prescription or visit a general practitioner for an alternative prescription.
The problem arises when shortage of hormone replacement therapy leads to outcry this early year.
Since June, the government has issued a number of “drug supply notices”, which clearly state shortages.
Some of these include: pain relievers used during childbirth; oral ulcer medicine; treatment of migraine; antihistamines; a drug used by patients with prostate cancer and endomitosis; an antipsychotic drug used for patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia; a certain type of inhaler and a certain brand of insulin.
The Pharmaceutical Journal also reported that on August 3, ministers urged hospitals to “stock up on” an anticoagulant used to treat strokes.
Some pharmacists have expressed concern about switching patients on certain medications to alternative medicines.
Ways to reduce the shortage
Community pharmacists told the Journal of Pharmacy this month that a lack of alendronic acid in the osteoporosis drug contributed to medication errors when alternative drugs were prescribed.
The magazine reports talks have begun with pharmaceutical and government leaders about ways to alleviate shortages.
Explainer: Why the lack of HRT?
A pharmacist at a children’s hospital in the UK says problems with the supply of various nutritional products are putting patients at risk.
“We have to split the diet and this can put patients at risk for vitamin deficiencies,” she said.
Another hospital pharmacist raised concerns about the drug not being available at the end of a patient’s life.
They told the journal: “There is no alternative for a patient who has to deal with an additional symptom in the last days of life due to the unavailability of a treatment.”
Patient safety
Mike Dent, director of pharmaceutical funding at the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, told the magazine: “We’ve become increasingly concerned about drug supply issues and the very serious impact this has on us. with both the community pharmacy team and their patients.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We take patient safety extremely seriously and we regularly share first-hand information about drug supply issues with the NHS so they can put in place plans to reduce the risk of shortages affecting patients, including providing alternative medicine.
“We have well-established processes for dealing with drug shortages and work closely with industry, the NHS and others to prevent drug shortages and address any issues as soon as possible. good.”
