Medicine Shortages investigation

Earlier this month, the House of Lords Public Services Committee initiated an investigation into the nation’s capacity to predict and avert shortages in medicine supply, urging the public to contribute written evidence. 

The new ‘medicines security’ inquiry, announced on 5 August, will scrutinise 'the effectiveness of current strategies to tackle medicine supply issues in England and their resilience in the face of challenges in the procurement, supply and distribution of medicine.' It will also explore innovative solutions to deal with the issues identified, the committee said. 

The call for evidence remains open until 23 September 2025, with the committee remarking that the rise in medicine shortages across England is not only affecting patient health, but also placing mounting pressure on the NHS, pharmacies, and GPs. 

 

Baroness Morris of Yardley, chairing the committee, explained: 

“The medical supply chain has become increasingly complex, encompassing sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and delivery of medicines on a global scale.” 

She highlighted that the committee seeks to assess how effective current strategies are across primary and secondary care, and how resilient they are against emerging threats. 

Further, she said the inquiry aims to “alleviate pressure on pharmacies, the NHS and also provide better medical care to patients”. Multiple oral evidence sessions are planned before the committee publishes its report, which will contain practical recommendations to strengthen medicine supply in England. 

This move follows a growing alarm within the pharmacy sector. In December 2024, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pharmacy warned that 84% of pharmacists face daily drug shortages, impacting community teams significantly. Its findings described these 'persistent disruptions' in supply chains as an 'unsustainable burden on community pharmacy teams.' 

In June, a Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC) leader – drawing on decades of experience in the industry – warned she was witnessing the most severe out-of-stock situation in 25 years, despite government saying that no specific review into pharmacy medicine shortages was planned at that time. 

Earlier that month, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) reported that 96% of its members were struggling to supply Creon, a form of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). One pharmacist described the situation as the 'worst stock shortage' they had ever encountered. 

 

Soaring supply warnings and the impact of Brexit 

A report by the Nuffield Trust reveals that medicine shortage notifications more than tripled between 2020 and 2024- climbing from 648 in 2020 to 1,938 in 2024. This marks the worst shortage period in four years. Treatments for epilepsy and cystic fibrosis are among those most severely affected. The think tank attributes much of this to Brexit, which disrupted EU trade and diminished import resilience. 

 

Nick Kaye, chair of the NPA, expressed deep concern: 

“Pharmacies are at the sharp end of medicines shortages… [they] frequently have to turn away distressed, frustrated and sometimes angry patients.” 

 

Widespread patient impact 

A British Generic Manufacturers Association-commissioned survey conducted in May 2024 found that nearly half (49%) of UK adults experienced difficulty obtaining prescriptions over the previous two years. Patients resorted to travelling to other pharmacies (30%) or went without medication entirely (17%). Causes cited included Brexit (36%), inflation (33%), and geopolitical instability (26%). CEO Mark Samuels commented: 

“Medicine shortages are the tip of a deeper malaise… multinational companies no longer see the UK as an attractive place to supply.” 

 

A distressing new normal 

According to Community Pharmacy England’s 2025 Pharmacy Pressures Survey, medicine shortages remain pervasive: 

• 95% of pharmacy teams report ongoing patient inconvenience due to supply issues 

• 73% believe patients' health is being put at risk 

• 87% now encounter supply issues daily - up from 67% in 2022 

• Around one in four teams spend over two hours daily sourcing alternatives 

 

Alastair Buxton, Director of NHS Services at CPE, added: 

“Patients trust and rely on their local pharmacy, but ongoing supply issues are making it harder to deliver the care people need. Pharmacies are going above and beyond to help, but they need urgent support…” 

 

Critical strain on pharmacy operations 

A House of Commons Library briefing (April 2025) underscored the pressures pharmacies face: an average of 11 extra hours per week is spent locating medicines, with owners sometimes taking 'huge financial risks' due to uncertain reimbursements. 

Further, a parliamentary inquiry revealed: 

• 99% of community pharmacy staff encounter supply issues at least weekly; 72% face multiple problems daily 

• 91% of business owners report a significant rise in supply or wholesaler issues compared to last year 

• 94% say their teams now spend more time sourcing medicines than before 

• 84% say their teams spend longer than ever 

One community pharmacist described supply challenges as 'the bane of our life’. Meanwhile, Mark Koziol of the Pharmacists’ Defence Association revealed that members spend 'four and a half hours a day' just trying to locate one medicine. 

 

Looking ahead: inquiry and potential change 

With the House of Lords now spearheading an inquiry, the public and industry stakeholders have until 23 September 2025 to submit evidence. The committee intends to explore both existing shortcomings and potential innovations in medicine supply, aiming to ease strain on pharmacies and improve patient care. Coupled with mounting pressure from professional bodies and shocking data on shortages, this inquiry could pave the way for a meaningful overhaul of how the UK secures its medicine supply.