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medicine shortages

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Out of date laws leave patients waiting three weeks for medicines, warns NPA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 , 1 Min Article

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Government to consult on shortage-busting switching powers for pharmacists

DHSC announces plans for long-awaited consultation on pharmacist flexibilities.

11 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Lords committee launches inquiry into medicines shortages in the UK

The House of Lords Public Services Committee will look at the causes of shortages and effectiveness of current measures designed to address them.

06 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Limit TB drugs to one month’s supply, warns MHRA amid shortages

Prioritise active TB cases to conserve supplies, MHRA tells prescribers

31 Jul 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Pharma company: We use ‘dual sourcing’ of molecules to prevent bottlenecks

Cost concerns stop many industry players from using dual sourcing of APIs, says manufacturer

08 Jul 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Medicines shortages a 'chronic structural challenge' says APPG

Disruptions to medicine supply chains causing harm to patients and placing an unsustainable burden on community pharmacies, says APPG inquiry.

08 Jul 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Medicines shortages are getting worse across England warns CPE report

Community Pharmacy England's latest pharmacy pressures survey found medicines shortages showed “no sign of improvement”.

30 Jun 2025 , 2 Min Article

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Patient harm a ‘ticking time bomb,’ warns owner of peninsula’s only pharmacy

Faisel Baig, who owns St Mawes Pharmacy on the Roseland peninsula, said patients face a 20-mile drive to the nearest pharmacy in Truro to get their medication.

28 Apr 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Trump tariffs bring concern for UK supply chain, pharmacies and patients

The NPA said President Trump’s announcement has “caused a degree of uncertainty for the UK medicines supply chain".

10 Apr 2025 , 3 Min Article

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Brexit ‘only partly to blame’ for worsening drugs shortages, Nuffield report says

Monthly price concessions last year fell from about 200 to 150. But the report said that number was “unthinkable a decade ago".

24 Mar 2025 , 2 Min Article

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Penny pinching on medicines costing the taxpayer pounds says CCA

Multiples’ trade body calls for end-to-end review of supply chain to resolve medicines shortages chaos.

19 Mar 2025 , 4 Min Article

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NPA wants greater flexibility to substitute medication to tackle shortages

Alarming NPA survey reveals growing impact of medicines shortages on patients.

10 Mar 2025 , 2 Min Article

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DH: Giving pharmacists switching powers could make shortages worse

Government 'looking very closely' into giving pharmacists flexibility says civil servant

13 Feb 2025 , 1 Min Article

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APPG launches inquiry into medicines shortages and calls for evidence

The All-Party Pharmacy Group said its inquiry will examine the factors causing shortages and potential solutions.

09 Jan 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Starmer must appoint a medicines tsar to solve shortages, says NPA

The National Pharmacy Association has warned that the supply chain's "robustness" needs testing because patients’ health is suffering.

12 Jul 2024 , 2 Min Article

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NPA urges parties to make drugs shortages election pledge as SSPs soar

Fifty SSPs were issued between 2022 and 2024 compared with 14 SSPs issued between 2019 and 2021.

03 Jun 2024 , 1 Min Article

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