RPS calls for national strategy to prevent medicines shortages, greater authority for pharmacists

A new report from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has called on the government to create a national strategy to manage medicine shortages and to
change legislation to empower community pharmacists to amend prescriptions when medicines are in short supply.

Currently, patients are required to return to their GP to get their prescriptions amended, leading to delayed access to medication, increased bureaucracy, and
additional strain on an already overburdened system.

The RPS report, backed by charities and patient groups, proposes allowing pharmacists to make minor amendments, such as adjusting the quantity, strength, or
form of prescribed medicines to ensure timely access for patients.

Additionally, the report highlighted key factors causing medicine shortages, including manufacturing and supply chain issues, exacerbated by cost pressures and
consolidation of manufacturing outlets.

This along with unplanned spikes in demand, such as shifts in prescribing practice or increased diagnosis of some conditions, have created “a perfect storm of
unstable supply”