Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 47
Medicine shortages undermine community pharmacy potential and erode public confidence.
Conclusion
Tackling medicine shortages is another vital component in securing the ability of pharmacy to meet its future potential. Medicine shortages cannot be ignored and left to become the norm. The wider implications of medicine shortages for the long- term potential of community pharmacy to take on more clinical work are deeply concerning. The time pharmacy teams are having to spend dealing with shortages is time that they could be spending with patients, and indeed will need to if the clinical role of pharmacists is expanded. Continuing shortages, serious or otherwise, run the risk of eroding public confidence in community pharmacy, with patients frustrated about the service they receive.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government acknowledges the need for flexibility in dispensing alternative medications and is currently examining options with stakeholders to assess appropriateness and risk management, but provides no specific commitment or timeline for implementing changes.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
47
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
Partially Accept. The Committee raises an interesting point. Medicine supply chains are highly regulated, complex and global. Supply disruption affects many countries around the world and is not specific to the UK. Issues with the medicines supply chain can occur for a number of reasons, most commonly due to manufacturing difficulties, regulatory noncompliance, sudden demand spikes or distribution issues. DHSC and NHS England do not routinely procure or supply medicines but do have a responsibility to manage medicine supply issues, help to prevent shortages and minimise risk to patients when they occur. Whilst supply issues can’t always be prevented, there are a range of well-established tools and processes already in place to mitigate risks to patients and successfully bring shortages to resolution, such as Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs). The resilience of UK supply chains is a key priority, and we are continually learning and seeking to improve the way we work to both manage and help prevent supply issues and avoid shortages for patients. The Department, working closely with NHS England, is taking forward a range of actions to improve our ability to mitigate and manage shortages and strengthen our resilience. However, medicine shortages are a complex and global issue and everyone in the supply chain has a role to play in addressing them – any action will require a collaborative approach. We acknowledge the recommendation in the report to commission an independent review of the medicines chain and will keep this under consideration as part of response arrangements already underway to improve the way medicine supply issues are managed.
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