Allow pharmacists to amend prescriptions during medicines shortages: RPS

Pharmacy teams are spending more time finding and managing solutions for medicine shortages, which pulls them away from clinical roles

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has submitted evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pharmacy inquiry into medicines shortages in England.

In its submission, the organisation has called on the government to develop a national strategy to address medicine shortages and change legislation to allow community pharmacists to amend prescriptions when medicines are in short supply.

Tase Oputu, RPS England Board chair, welcomed the inquiry, and emphasised that medicines shortages continue to impact patients and the work of pharmacists daily.

The RPS’s evidence draws on its report, Medicines Shortages: Solutions for Shelves, which examines the issue in detail.

The report revealed that pharmacy teams are spending more time chasing medicines supplies, identifying and switching patients to alternative medicines, taking their time away from other clinical activities

Medicines shortages are also putting financial pressure on community pharmacy contractors.

The RPS report noted that the current reimbursement system often leaves pharmacies at a financial disadvantage when medicine prices rise during shortages.

“Our members working in community pharmacy are sourcing medicines at potentially a significant loss, in the hope that price concessions are in place at the end of a month to reflect these increased prices,” it said.

Additionally, medicines shortages are adding tension in professional relationships and taking a toll on the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare teams.

The RPS report made several recommendations to help reduce the impact of medicines shortages on patients. Key recommendation include:

• Develop a cohesive cross-government and NHS strategy to improve medicines supply chain resilience and medicines security.
• Boost UK medicines manufacturing infrastructure, particularly generic manufacturing, which accounts for 80 per cent of medicines prescribed in the NHS.
• Enact legislation to enable community pharmacists to make minor amendments to prescriptions in line with existing hospital practice, RPS policy and the recommendation of the Health and Social Care Select Committee.
• Review the community pharmacy contractual framework to reduce financial risks for contractors and support stable medicine supplies for patients.

“We look forward to the inquiry drawing on the body of evidence within our report and aligning to some of our key recommendations and remain committed to supporting the APPG in this important piece of work.,” Oputu added.

As part of the inquiry, the APPG has invited written evidence from pharmacists, pharmacy teams, GPs, prescribers, patient groups, professional organisations, and medicines manufacturers and distributors.

Submissions are due by Friday, 24 January 2025.

The APPG’s broader inquiry will also include oral evidence sessions scheduled for early next year.