A Parliamentary group has warned that there is a shortage of some prescription medicines and this is causing patients to suffer. A report from the All Party Pharmacy Group said that the shortages were due to medicines intended for the UK being exported to other EU countries. It is speculators who are exporting the medicines and it is all perfectly legal in UK and EU law, the report says.
Pharmacists are spending valuable time searching for medicines that are in short supply and this is affecting patients, many of them vulnerable such as those with mental health issues, diabetics and epileptics. There are even cases of patients not receiving their medication at all because of the shortages. The group said that this had been an ongoing problem for four years.
They also said that while they had no objection to the export of medicines in principle, it should not be at the cost of harm to UK patients. Patients, especially those that are more vulnerable, are being caused unnecessary stress and complications. Also pharmacists are wasting time that should be spent on patient care while searching for the medicines.
According to Department of Health guidelines pharmacies should not have to wait longer than 24 hours for the supply of medicines and patients also have a right to expect this. The group is calling for more urgency in dealing with the matter from the organisations involved.
Chief executive of The Patients Association, Katherine Murphy, said that these medicines should be available to patients when they need them and that should be the least they expect. She said that this was not always happening and consequently vulnerable patients were suffering. The All Party Group also said that the government’s priority should be UK patients and not the free movement of goods.
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