Write About Everything

Medicine shortages are ‘worse than ever’ in Britain and are now putting lives at risk, pharmacists warned today. 

Data shows 106 commonly taken drugs are currently out of stock across the UK — double the number recorded in January 2022. 

Over the past two years, supply problems have hit crucial antibiotics and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs, as well as type 2 diabetes and Shape Kapseln Höhle der Löwen cancer medicines.

Now a treatment for controlling epileptic seizures has also been added to the list. 

Experts warned supply problems are forcing some patients to switch to other brands and, in extreme cases, leaving cancer patients without medicines needed to control the spread of their disease.  

Over the past two years, supply problems have hit crucial antibiotics, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs, type 2 diabetes medicines and cancer medications. Now a treatment for controlling epileptic seizures has also been added to the list

According to the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) — the trade body representing drug manufacturers and suppliers — supply issues affected 96 products as of December 18. 

While this is down on the 111 recorded at the end of October, 10 drugs that weren’t hit with supply problems in the autumn have since been added to the list.

And the total is double the 52 medicines with supply issues logged in January 2022. 

Delyth Morgan, the chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, warned patients had been forced to go without medicines, increasing their risk of the cancer recurring or spreading.

She told The Guardian: ‘Last year many people shared with us, via Breast Cancer Now’s helpline, that they’d been facing difficulties accessing their hormone treatment including letrozole, anastrozole and tamoxifen, causing them huge worry and anxiety.