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
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
James Davies, RPS Director for England and co-author of the report<\/p><\/blockquote>\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
Ohter recommendations in the report include:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
- Improve reporting by manufacturers:<\/strong> prompt alert of the risk of shortages would transform the impact on patients, and those consistently failing to report should be fined.<\/li>\n
- Build supply chain resilience:<\/strong> strengthen NHS procurement contracts to ensure manufacturers can meet supply demands and respond to shortages quickly.<\/li>\n
- Improve data connectivity:<\/strong> Use better demand forecasting and share information across the supply chain to prevent stock issues before they happen.<\/li>\n
- Enhance systems for life critical medicines:<\/strong> improve collaboration across the health service to coordinate access to specific medicines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
James Davies, RPS Director for England and co-author of the report, added: \u201cCommunity pharmacists must be allowed to make minor changes to prescriptions during shortages. The current outdated system inconveniences patients, wastes time and causes frustration. The Secretary of State for Health should give pharmacists the authority to act in the best interests of their patients, rather than remain subject to \u2018empty shelf syndrome\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bruce Warner, Chair of the advisory group for the report, said: \u201cThis report provides a comprehensive assessment of what is causing medicines shortages, their impact on patients, pharmacists and healthcare professionals, and what more can be done to mitigate and manage shortages.”<\/p>\n
Sharon Brennan, Director of Policy and External Affairs at National Voices, a coalition of 200 health and social care charities in England, said: \u201cWe urge the Department of Health and Social Care to recognise the serious and worsening impact medication shortages are having on patients, and to commit the same level of urgency to improving the situation as it has to other NHS access-to-care issues such as diagnosis and waiting lists.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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