NHS chief warns UK ‘days away’ from running out of generic drugs

The head of the NHS has said health bosses are “really worried” as pharmacies across the UK could be “days away” from facing supply issues for everyday medicines.

The NHS boss has warned that the UK is days away from phasing out aspirin and paracetamol as health bosses are “really worried”.

Supply concerns have been raised by conflicts in the Middle East and supply has been affected by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

After the fight broke out, health officials feared the potential impact the conflict could have on existing stock issues as UK pharmacies have already faced shortages this year.

Sir Jim Mackie, chief executive of NHS England, said health bosses are now “really worried” about supply if a decision is not made soon.

Pharmacies have previously faced issues with the supply of painkillers including aspirin, codeine and paracetamol as well as antidepressants and HRT.

Cancer drugs, including Efudix, a chemotherapy cream, are also facing stock problems.

Sir Jim said in a telephone interview with LBC radio: “We are really concerned 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 to “focus on where the risks are through the supply chain”.

However, when asked what drugs he fears he will get low on, he said: “Well, everything, honestly – everything is at risk.”

He added: “In each section, we have enough to get us through for a reasonable period of time… so generally, a few weeks.

“Because things perish and it costs money to store and various other things go out of business, you can’t keep a supply for years and years, generally depending on the product we keep a reasonable amount of time.

“Some are done centrally, some are done locally.”

Sir Jim responded to a question about whether it would be worth “weeks of delivery”: “Yes, it could be days for some products”.

For other sectors, there are also worries about supply and costs, with oil prices rising across the country as nervous Britons try to scare away petrol purchases.

Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “We are not currently seeing drug shortages directly linked to the conflict in the Middle East, but pharmacies are seeing a disturbing increase in prices which could be an early indicator of challenges.

“The Department of Health has issued an unprecedented number of price concessions designed to counter rising prices, which are likely to be exacerbated by this current situation.

“The NHS has undercut the price of medicines over many years, which leaves the UK vulnerable in the global market and contributes to the growing problem of drug shortages, which have been a daily reality for our members for many years.

Pharmacies will always do everything they can to ensure that patients get the medicines they need but they must do so in an increasingly competitive global market.

“The Government must ensure that physical supply routes are secure during this war but also ensure that the NHS is provided with adequate funding to ensure that the UK is not left behind in the global market at a time when both the supply and demand for medicines are extremely challenging.”

Dr Leila Henbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, also said: “Today’s warning from Sir Jim Mackie, chief executive of NHS England, reinforces what we have been saying for some time.

“Medicine shortages are 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 treatment they rely on.

“The government should act immediately by adding the 150 most dangerous drugs to the export ban list, appoint a drug shortage tsar to act across the government, establish a national critical drug list to protect essential drugs, and officially recognize drug shortages as a national security risk.

“Pharmacies will continue to do everything possible to protect patients from the adverse effects of this shortage.

“But without urgent and meaningful government support, there’s only so much we can do with our hands tied behind our backs.”

A government spokesman reiterated that there are processes in place to manage disruption in the health and social care sector and the supply of medicines is not currently under threat.