According to a GP media, which carried out the survey of 600 GPs, basic medicines needed every day in the National Health Service (NHS) have become difficult to obtain, with GPs saying the problems are getting worse.

Although recent high-profile cases, including the shortage of hypertension drug valsartan, and problems with the supply of the shingles vaccine Zostavax, are now resolved, GP leaders say that the current situation is unacceptable. They are demanding regular updates of local shortages for all GPs.

There were 18 generic drug products listed in August 2014 by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee as having received price concessions by the Department of Health, and therefore being in short supply in the UK.

The findings echo those of a recent statement released by the country’s All-Party Pharmacy Group (APPG). Members of Parliament have previously warned that growing problems in the supply of generics, which account for 75% of prescriptions, could be ‘disastrous’ for patients [1].

‘This is a stress we can do without and a potential patient safety issue with increased risk of prescribing mistakes,’ one GP said.

The Department of Health’s system of rationing in response to these drug shortages is supposed to mean that the right numbers of drugs are held in stock. However, the system often means particular parts of the country run low on stocks because they are not allowed to have more than their quota of medicines.

A Department of Health spokesperson commenting on the matter said ‘We are actively involved in a number of pieces of work to tackle these problems both at a UK level and at a European and global level.’

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Reference
1.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Generics shortages continue to rise in the UK [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Sep 12] Available from: www.gabionline.net/Pharma-News/Generics-shortages-continue-to-rise-in-the-UK

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