The NHS lead has said that health bosses are “really worried” as pharmacies across the UK could be just “days away” from facing supply issues for everyday medication
The NHS head has warned that the UK is days away from running out of aspirin and paracetamol as health bosses are “really worried”.
Supply concerns have sparked due to conflict in the Middle East with deliveries being impacted by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
After war began, health officials expressed fears about the potential impact conflict could have on existing stock issues as UK pharmacies have already faced lows this year.
Sir Jim Mackey, the head of NHS England, stated that health bosses are now “really worried” about supplies if a resolution does not occur quickly.
Pharmacies have previously suffered supply issues of painkiller medication including aspirin, codeine and paracetamol as well as antidepressants and HRT.
Cancer medications, including Efudix, a chemotherapy cream have also faced stock issues.
Sir Jim said on a phone interview with LBC Radio: “We are really worried about this.
“We’ve already had a couple of supply shocks in the last 12 to 18 months of key supplies.”
He added that there is a team in place to “focus on where the risks might be through the supply chains”.
However, when questioned what drugs he feared would run low, he said: “Well, everything, honestly – everything’s at risk.”
He added: “In every area, we’ve got enough to get through for a reasonable period… so generally, a few weeks.
“Because things perish and it costs money to store and various other things go out of out of use, you can’t hold years and years of supply, generally dependent on the product we keep a reasonable period.
“Some of that is held centrally, some held locally.”
Sir Jim responded to a question whether it would be “weeks worth of supply”: “Yeah, it could be days for some products”.
For other sectors, there is also worries about supplies and costs, with the price of fuel spiking across the nation as fearful Brits attempt to panic-buy petrol.
Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association said: “We’re not currently seeing shortages of medicine directly linked to the conflict in the Middle East, but pharmacies are seeing disturbing spikes in prices which can be an early indicator of challenges.
“The Department of Health have issued unprecedented numbers of price concessions designed to cope with price surges, which are likely exacerbated by this current situation.
“The NHS has driven down the price of medicines over many years, which leaves the UK vulnerable in a global market and contributes to the rising problem of medicine shortages, which are a daily reality for many years for our members.
“Pharmacies will always do everything they can to ensure patients get the medicines they need but they must do this in an increasingly competitive global market.
“The Government needs to ensure both that physical supply routes are protected during this conflict but also ensure that the NHS is providing sufficient funding to ensure that Britain is not left behind in the international market at a time when both supply and demand for medicines are very challenging.”
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, the Chief Executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, also said: “Today’s warning from the CEO of NHS England, Sir Jim Mackey, reinforces what we have been saying for some time.
“Medicine shortages pose a serious and growing threat to patients across the UK, and the Government must act now to ensure people are not left without the vital treatments they depend on.
“The Government must move at pace by immediately adding the 150 most at-risk medicines to the export ban list, appointing a medicines shortages Tsar to drive action across government, creating a national Critical Medicines List to protect essential treatments, and formally recognising medicines shortages as a national security risk.
“Pharmacies will continue to do everything possible to shield patients from the worst effects of these shortages.
“But without urgent and meaningful support from the Government, there is only so much we can do with our hands tied behind our backs.”
A Government spokesperson reiterated that processes are in place to manage disruption across the health and social care sector and supply of medication is not currently at threat.
