{"id":5760,"date":"2024-11-26T14:57:53","date_gmt":"2024-11-26T14:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integratedcarejournal.com\/?p=5760"},"modified":"2024-12-05T17:42:39","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T17:42:39","slug":"rps-calls-for-government-action-to-tackle-medicines-shortages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integratedcarejournal.com\/rps-calls-for-government-action-to-tackle-medicines-shortages\/","title":{"rendered":"RPS calls for government action to tackle medicines shortages"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new report from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has called on the Government to create a national strategy to manage medicine shortages and to change legislation to allow community pharmacists to amend prescriptions when medicines are in short supply.<\/p>\n

Backed by charities and patient groups, the Medicines Shortages: solutions for empty shelves<\/em><\/a> report explains how medicine supply chains are global and complex, with shortages caused by manufacturing problems and disrupted, less resilient supply chains. The report finds that supply chain issues are in part due to the consolidation of manufacturing outlets and cost-driven pressures.<\/p>\n

The report calls on the UK Government to create a national strategy to both prevent and manage medicine shortages<\/a> that would streamline efforts across the NHS, reduce inefficiencies caused by duplication of effort and ensure information and guidance for professionals and patients is available as soon as shortages occur.<\/p>\n

The findings also highlight that supply chain vulnerabilities have combined with unplanned spikes in demand, such as shifts in prescribing practice or increased diagnosis of some conditions, to create a perfect storm of unstable supply.<\/p>\n

This has made it harder for patients to access treatment<\/a>, causing frustration, anxiety and in some cases, harm to patient health. The report cites high profile examples of patients being unable to access hormone replacement therapy, antibiotics, diabetes drugs, and medicines used to treat epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, among many others.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking a new approach to medicine shortages is essential. A properly resourced UK-wide medicines shortages strategy that helps prevent and manage shortages would greatly improve the resilience of the supply chain. This would relieve stress and anxiety for patients and free up time for pharmacists to focus on patient care rather than constantly chasing down supplies.<\/p>\n

James Davies, RPS Director for England and co-author of the report<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The report also urges the Government to legislate to allow community pharmacists to make minor amends to prescriptions when medicines are in short supply. This simple change would enable a different quantity, strength or form of the medicine to be provided. For example, changing tablets to a liquid version of a medicine, or substituting a pack of 20 mg tablets with 2 x 10 mg packs when necessary.<\/p>\n

At present, patients have to return to their GP to get their prescription amended, delaying access to medication, increasing bureaucracy and intensifying pressure on an already overburdened system. This move already has support<\/a> from medical organisations, patient groups and other pharmacy bodies.<\/p>\n

Frontline pharmacy teams are also under added pressure due to medicines shortages; A 2024 Community Pharmacy England survey found that almost three-quarters of community pharmacy staff report spending one-two hours or more daily trying to obtain medicine stock or source alternatives. One acute hospital trust also reported that the number of staff required to manage medicines shortages has increased from one person to five in the last five years \u2013 a situation \u201clikely to be reflected in trusts across the country\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ohter recommendations in the report include:<\/strong><\/p>\n