UK Medicine Shortages: The Complete Guide

What Are Medicine Shortages?

A medicine shortage occurs when the demand for a medication exceeds available supply, resulting in patients being unable to obtain their prescribed treatment. Shortages range from brief, localised stock-outs lasting a few days to prolonged national unavailability lasting months or even years.

The UK defines a shortage formally when the DHSC (Department of Health and Social Care) is notified by a manufacturer of a supply disruption, or when pharmacy reports indicate widespread unavailability.

The Scale of the Problem

Medicine shortages have been increasing globally over the past decade. The European Medicines Agency reported a 60% increase in shortage notifications between 2019 and 2023. The UK is no exception — the combination of Brexit, COVID-19, and structural supply chain issues has made shortages more frequent and more severe.

Why Medicine Shortages Happen

There's rarely a single cause. Shortages usually result from multiple factors combining:

Manufacturing Issues

Pharmaceutical manufacturing is highly regulated and complex. Factory shutdowns for maintenance, equipment failure, quality problems, or regulatory action can halt production for months. Around 60-80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are manufactured in China and India, creating geographic concentration risk.

Detailed guide on why shortages happen →

Commercial Decisions

The UK's drug pricing system means some medicines are less profitable to sell here than in other markets. When supply is tight globally, manufacturers may prioritise higher-paying countries.

Regulatory Complexity

Post-Brexit, the UK has its own regulatory system. Medicines approved by the EMA need separate MHRA approval. Read about Brexit's impact →

Demand Spikes

Seasonal illnesses, media coverage, and new clinical guidelines can spike demand beyond supply chain capacity. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated this dramatically.

Most Commonly Affected Medicines

• ADHD medications — Persistent shortage, now in its fourth year
• HRT products — Improving but occasionally disrupted
• Antibiotics — Seasonal shortages, especially liquid formulations
• Mental health drugs — Antidepressants and antipsychotics
• Epilepsy drugs — Concerning due to switching risks
• Diabetes medications — GLP-1 agonists under pressure

Full list of most commonly shorted medicines →

What to Do When Your Medicine Is Unavailable

1. Ask your pharmacist if it's a local issue or known shortage, and whether an SSP is active
2. Try other pharmacies — stock varies between branches and chains
3. Request an emergency supply — pharmacists can provide up to 30 days for most medicines
4. Contact your GP — they can prescribe an alternative or adjust your dose
5. Check MedWatch — our shortage tracker shows current status
6. Sign up for alerts — get notified when your medication is affected

Detailed step-by-step guide →

What to do when your prescription is out of stock →

Your Rights as a Patient

• Pharmacists must make reasonable efforts to source your medicine
• You're entitled to an emergency supply if you have immediate clinical need
• You should never pay more than the standard prescription charge for an SSP alternative
• Your GP must provide clinical support for switching to alternatives
• You can make a formal complaint if you receive inadequate care

Full guide to your rights →

How the Government Manages Shortages

The DHSC's Medicine Supply Team monitors and manages shortages using:

• Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs): Allow pharmacists to supply alternatives without a new prescription
• Strategic stockpiling: Reserves of essential medicines
• Manufacturer engagement: Working with companies to resolve issues
• Import facilitation: Expediting overseas imports

How DHSC manages medicine supply →

How Pharmacies Handle Shortages

Community pharmacies are on the front line. The PSNC estimates pharmacists spend 20 hours per week managing shortages — checking wholesalers, contacting GPs, and managing patient expectations.

How pharmacies handle shortages →

How to Protect Yourself

• Order early: Request repeats 2 weeks before running out
• Know your alternatives: Discuss backup medications with your GP before a shortage hits
• Build a small buffer: Legally maintain a 1-2 week buffer
• Use MedWatch: Free alerts for early warning
• Build pharmacy relationships: A pharmacist who knows you will prioritise your needs

The Future of Medicine Supply

Solutions being pursued include domestic manufacturing investment, better demand forecasting using AI, supply chain diversification, international cooperation, and regulatory reform. Progress is being made, but systemic change takes years.

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