Urgent warning over pharmacy shortages of Calpol, Nurofen and other common drugs
An urgent warning has been issued as high street pharmacies struggle with shortages of Calpol, Nurofen and other common drugs.
A combination of factors have come together in the perfect storm to see the shelves of pharmacies up and down the country run empty.
As costs skyrocket, ingredients have become more difficult to attain in necessary quantities from India and China.
Suppliers have also been left unable to keep up with the demand for some of the most common medicines on the market, as the number of people requiring them has spiked.
Essentials for parents such as Calpol and Nurofen are amongst the worst affected while other drugs such as Benylin have become increasingly difficult to get a hold of too.
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A number of factors including shortages of ingredients have caused the problem (Bloomberg via Getty Images)Alongside that, the Mirror was told that there has been growing issues over being able to secure the glass bottles the medicines go in.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association for Independent Multiple Pharmacies warned that things have got progressively worse in the last few months.
She added: "This includes several over the counter medicines and prescription only medicine.
"The manufacturers tell us that the reasons are availability of raw materials from China and India and the rising costs of energy, fuel etc.
"Some of the medicines for children being in liquid format come in glass bottles and we have also been told by manufacturers that the cost and availability of glass has also impacted on this.
"Pharmacists are doing everything we can to ensure patients are not left without medicines.
"There are some things people can do at home to manage symptoms of cold and flu including drinking tea with lemon and honey and ginger, get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water."
Speaking earlier this year, the CEO explained how demand had skyrocketed this year - as the number of cases of colds and flu have spiked, which exacerbated supply issues.
She added: "The demand has been high because this season we’ve seen higher cases of colds and flu and people are obviously trying very hard to look after themselves and making sure that they use the relevant products to manage the symptoms.
"And that has led to a shortage of these products in terms of us not being able to obtain them."
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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) previously warned supplies had been hit as flu and COVID-19 had operated at high levels this winter.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman added:"We know how distressing and frustrating medicine supply issues can be, but we want to assure people we have well-established processes with an aim to prevent supply issues occurring in the first instance, and to manage or mitigate them when they occur.
"We work with a wide range of organisations operating in the UK medicine supply chain to provide advice and help ensure that patients continue to have access to safe and effective treatments.”
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