Overview
- In mid‑June pharmacists and the National Pharmacy Association warned shortages have reached record severity with pharmacies rationing medicines and reporting real patient‑safety risks.
- Serious Shortage Protocols have been in place for key products for many months, with Creon active since May 2024 and extended again into July 2026 and Estradot under an SSP since December 2024.
- A recent NPA survey found 96% of community pharmacies say shortages pose a serious risk to patient safety and 83% reported abuse or anger from patients over unavailable medicines.
- Industry and pharmacy leaders blame rising global prices, Iran‑region freight and air‑freight disruption and the NHS fixed drug tariff that leaves pharmacies unable to match higher international prices.
- Pharmacies are calling for an urgent cross‑sector taskforce, legal changes to let pharmacists make limited substitutions, better GP‑pharmacy communication and long‑term investment to expand UK manufacturing, while the government highlights up to £520m for domestic production.