Shortage of medicines all over Europe - a big concern

The first alerts were in the autumn of 2022 from The Pharmaceutical Journal, not sure of the current situation.

Unless manufactured in the UK-how do you explain the B - word having any relevance to a shortage of medicines all over Europe. ? By which I take it you mean mainland Europe?

It has been going on for some time hasn’t it? We’ve had problems for 2 yrs ish so far

MawtheMerrier

Unless manufactured in the UK-how do you explain the B - word having any relevance to a shortage of medicines all over Europe. ? By which I take it you mean mainland Europe?

I know nothing of this situation, but if there is a shortage of anything all over Europe prices will rise, and if Sterling is low, then the items in short supply will be disproportionately expensive for the UK to buy. The difficulties in importing anything that Brexit has brought in its wake will exacerbate any problems, and when the items are drugs, that will have an impact on the sick.

Doodledog

MawtheMerrier

Unless manufactured in the UK-how do you explain the B - word having any relevance to a shortage of medicines all over Europe. ? By which I take it you mean mainland Europe?

I know nothing of this situation, but if there is a shortage of anything all over Europe prices will rise, and if Sterling is low, then the items in short supply will be disproportionately expensive for the UK to buy. The difficulties in importing anything that Brexit has brought in its wake will exacerbate any problems, and when the items are drugs, that will have an impact on the sick.

Thank you- I thought that was quite obvious.

I had been unable to obtain an essential heart medication (7.5mg) from November.

Eventually, in December, a larger dose 5mg tablet was sourced, which was so small, it couldn't be halved. I had to take 5mg, dissolve the other 5mg in water, then drink half of it and dispose of the rest. You couldn't make it up.

Fortunately I only received it the correct dose other day, despite being told it wouldn't be available until February.

A number of my medications have been difficult to source. My surgery will only allow me to order a week ahead, but some drugs are taking two weeks to be dispensed, due to shortages.

If Brexit is the reason for a shortage of medicines in Europe we must have been exporting a lot, who knew 😉
I never knew we were so important in this field.

A lot of generic medications are produced in India.

a quarter of the UK’s generics are manufactured within the UK, a similar amount is shipped in from continental Europe and about a third come from India.

One reason for shortages has been cited, bizarrely, as a shortage of shipping containers.

Its not just in Europe either - Ive seen news that there are lots of OTC medicines in shortage in North America too.

MerylStreep

If Brexit is the reason for a shortage of medicines in Europe we must have been exporting a lot, who knew 😉
I never knew we were so important in this field.

Pharmaceuticals are fourth on our list of exports, Marydoll

4. PHARMACEUTICALS – £13.2 BILLION pa

Not shouting - just copying and pasting.

MerylStreep

If Brexit is the reason for a shortage of medicines in Europe we must have been exporting a lot, who knew 😉
I never knew we were so important in this field.

No, Brexit is not the problem for the EU, but it is going to make it much worse for the UK. European countries will prioretise each other, and it is so easy to move from one to t'other, no red tape, no exchange rate issue, no transport issue, and all part of the same Agency.

I used to work for a big UK pharma that was a world leader, but this was a loooong time ago.

Vaccines will be a major problem too.

Sorry, MerylStreep, not Marydoll 🙂

If a person can’t get their much needed medication then obvs it will be a big concern.
So far no problemo, tho antibiotics, certain kinds, can be hard to source I hear.

Is it not possible that Covid, the numbers of sufferers needing medication, the pressures on drug and vaccine manufacturers and the problems of the global economy might also be playing a part?

Summerlove

Its not just in Europe either - Ive seen news that there are lots of OTC medicines in shortage in North America too.

Yea, my son in the US told me that. It’s hard to get some prescription drugs, too, it can be two weeks before you actually get what you’ve been prescribed.

When I did some research on why my medication was hard to get, I found out it was a manufacturing issue. It wasn't being made.

As a result, my condition has deteriorated and I awaiting an urgent cardiology appointment.

MawtheMerrier

Is it not possible that Covid, the numbers of sufferers needing medication, the pressures on drug and vaccine manufacturers and the problems of the global economy might also be playing a part?

It's bound to have had an effect on the production of pharmaceuticals and the demand has been higher too.

Of course, many factors come into play. Some factors are relevant to all countries, some are UK specific - very low Sterling value, import red tape and transport issues, being shut out of European Agency, etc.

I have COPD and have been told by my usual pharmacy that my Ventolin emergency inhaler cannot be supplied because of an ''issue''.
This was one wee ao and I am still waiting for my GP to prescribe a substitute

I found this:

Why is there a shortage?
With inhalers being essential for people with asthma as both a preventative measure and for immediate relief, there has been a large increase in demand across the UK since the coronavirus outbreak. It’s possible that some patients who were not using their inhalers properly have now started using them more often, and as prescribed.

This extra demand has caused temporary shortages of some inhalers across the country, in particular inhalers called Clenil Modulite, and Fostair; as well as a few others. The manufacturers of these have assured us that they are still making them in the same quantities as before, but it is likely to take them some time to catch up to this increase in demand from pharmacies.

The NHS has tasked for patients to not order their inhalers or other medicines, earlier than needed; and doctors have been asked not to issue prescriptions early or for more medicines than normal during the pandemic, to help make sure there are enough medicines to go around.

Have you tried a different pharmacy. I too have COPD and haven't experienced difficulty obtaining Ventolin.
However, the inhaler has been a generic salbutamol one, not the original Ventolin.
In saying that, I don't find the generic one as effective and it leaves a strange taste in the mouth.

Oh dear, I didn’t realise that Ventolin was in short supply. I use it, a couple of my family members use it /need it. I hope the problem will soon be sorted ..

As far as inhalers are concerned, I imagine the nasty respiratory illness that seemed to affect half the country around Christmas time has affected supply.
My asthma was aggravated and I was using my Ventolin inhaler several times every day. My practice nurse said I should have a Fostair inhaler as well and the GP prescribed one last week.
No problems at the pharmacy, but I'm probably not the only person to have needed extra support this winter.

I get mine from a delivery service and my last one was delayed for a week. I use 3 different inhalers but it was the Ventolin that was late. I hope this is a one-off, as I really need them all.