Lawmakers say one in four people are struggling to get their prescriptions filled due to drug shortages.
Patient group Healthwatch England said patients were playing “pharmacy bingo” trying to find out what their medicines were stocked and called for the introduction of a system that would allow pharmacies to search for prescription drug stocks.
Medicines facing shortages include drugs to treat ADHD, epilepsy, HRT and diabetes, as well as some anti-cancer drugs.
A survey of 1,650 people carried out by Healthwatch and seen by The Telegraph found that 24 per cent of respondents were unable to obtain prescription drugs because their pharmacy was “out”.
For over-65s, the proportion rose to 30%, and the problem was evenly spread across England, with the East Midlands the worst-hit region at 27%, compared with London the worst at 21%.
“We need a drug database.”
William Pett, head of policy and communications at Healthwatch, told MPs on the Health Select Committee on Tuesday that patients “physically walk around multiple pharmacies” to ask if their medicines are in stock. “We have to resort to posting desperate messages.” Local Facebook Group.”
“In this day and age, it would be great if patients could go online to some kind of database and see where the pharmacy has their medications,” he said.
“If you want to take a hoover from Argos, you can do that,” he said.
“I understand it's not easy.” [to do]But right now, in the 21st century with all kinds of technology, patients have to perform the very basic and arduous task of actually navigating when information should be so much more readily available. There are systems that do not.
“Right now that process is not working and we need to do something to improve it.”
Drug shortage 'worst in history'
This comes as industry leaders warn that drug shortages are putting patients at risk.
Dr Leila Hanbeck, chief executive of the Independent Multi-Pharmacy Association, said the situation was “the worst I've ever seen”.
“Our supply system is often unable to keep up with the high demand for medicines,” she says. “Each week, you will receive a message letting you know that certain popular medicines will be out of stock for a certain period of time.”
Pett said a Healthwatch study found that some diabetics have cut their medication in half because of ongoing shortages, but that “approximately 70 percent of people with ADHD have had to ration their medications as a result of shortages.” It didn't happen,” he said.
Researcher Dr Sami Pinarbasi, 38, from Greater Manchester, said receiving 40mg of lisdexamfetamine, a drug used to treat ADHD, every month was a “nightmare”.
“It's really hard to get prescriptions because every time I get a prescription, I call 30 to 40 pharmacies,” he says.
There are many reasons for drug shortages, including global demand, manufacturing issues and delays, and shortages of key ingredients.
The Ministry of Health stated: “We don't know these numbers. There are around 14,000 medicines licensed in the UK and the vast majority remain in sufficient supply.
“We have well-established processes to quickly prevent, manage and mitigate drug shortages should they occur, including close collaboration with industry, the NHS and others. When it occurs, it is usually dealt with with minimal disruption to the patient.”
