Community Pharmacy England director of Research and Insights Dr James Davies has expressed concern over the sharp rise in price concessions in February.
According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the price concessions granted for February 2026 include 174 lines, the highest since March 2023.
Davies said, “It has been a very worrying start to 2026 - with the highest number of concessions granted since March 2023, and having received more reports about problems obtaining medicines at appropriate prices than in any month since we started collecting this data in 2019.
"This is a concerning escalation, and reflects the ongoing lack of resilience and challenges in the medicines supply chain.
"The supply chain is now struggling to operate effectively given the UK’s low-price environment, and there is a danger that the continued lowering of prices will drive suppliers away from the UK market, putting further strain on supply to patients.
"These issues are placing intense strain on community pharmacies, with our most recent data showing that one in four teams are spending more than two hours a day sourcing alternatives. We cannot let this persistent disruption – which is exacerbating the intense financial challenges pharmacies are under – become business as usual.
"We continue to watch events in the Middle East closely, as the impact on air and shipping routes will likely affect the availability of some medicines in the coming months. DHSC needs to accelerate its plans to give pharmacists more flexibility to supply other available alternatives.”
