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Generic and Biosimilar Medications

Shortages

There will always be some products facing supply issues in the UK. In recent years the overall number has increased due to a range of factors. As an industry, we are fully committed to keeping any shortages to a minimum and have worked with supply chain partners and government colleagues to address issues and find new solutions.

Generic and Biosimilar Medications

Increase in shortages

Since the start of 2021, Medicines UK has every month tracked and published the incidence of supply issues based on data compiled by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England, which are presented on the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) website for use by pharmacists and NHS commissioners.

 

Since late 2021, when 55 supply issues at the presentation level were reported, the number of shortages has continued to climb, and for a few years there were around 100 issues at any one time. The number has decreased slightly, but it is still higher than three years ago.

 

With around 3,400 different presentations covering an extensive range of treatments listed on the UK Drug Tariff, the proportion of medicines facing a supply issue is less than 2.5% of the available presentations. However, every shortage matters, and we recognise the stress it can cause patients and the additional workload for pharmacy colleagues who spend numerous hours a week sourcing replacement treatment, instead of supporting and advising patients.

 

Supply issues mitigation

Companies, often working with the authorities, may seek to implement a range of measures to mitigate a shortage, depending on the extent and duration of the supply issue.

 

For example, companies may move or increase production or support a third party to do so, redirect excess stock from elsewhere in the UK or other nations (with MHRA support to fast-track supply if from overseas), fly stock in, or seek to purchase from other suppliers that hold stock.

 

Via the NHS Specialised Pharmacy Service, guidance will be published for prescribers and pharmacies following NHS/DHSC analysis on the extent and severity of the company's out-of-stock status and consideration of whether other suppliers can fill the gap for the relevant presentation. If suppliers of the same presentation cannot fill the demand, alternative treatments (same molecule; different strength, form or pack size) will be recommended. Otherwise, alternative treatments from the same therapy area in different molecules will be recommended.

 

To support prescribing alternatives in a different presentation or even molecule, we advocate allowing more substitution in community pharmacy as supply issues start to become apparent. This would avoid patients having to return to their GP to get a new script.

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