Access to Medication in England Expected to Become More Difficult
Access to medication in England is expected to become more difficult, affecting people living with a range of health conditions including heart problems, stroke risks, eye infections, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease. Many patients are struggling to obtain the drugs they rely on daily, with shortages and supply issues impacting pharmacies and patients alike.
Current Challenges in Medication Supply
Chloe, a 29-year-old woman with epilepsy, illustrates the difficulties faced by many. She relies on Lamotrigine-based medication to prevent life-threatening seizures but has found it increasingly hard to get hold of this essential drug. Despite being able to access other medications, the shortage of Lamotrigine has led to a return of seizures, resulting in injury.
Pharmacies across England are experiencing similar problems. Supply shortages mean that patients often leave without the medication they need. These shortages are partly due to rising global prices for medicines and ingredients, as well as a complex funding and reimbursement system within the UK.
Funding and Pricing Issues Affecting Pharmacies
The NHS pays pharmacies a fixed price for each medicine dispensed. Pharmacies must source the drugs at or below this price. When market prices rise above the NHS tariff, medications are added to the government’s price concessions list, which currently includes a record 210 named medicines. This list allows pharmacies to be reimbursed at a higher price.
However, sudden price spikes can exceed even the concession prices, causing pharmacies to dispense medications at a loss. This financial strain leads pharmacies to stock lower quantities of these medicines, increasing the likelihood of shortages and delays for patients.
Pharmacist Akash Patel from Shepperton, Surrey, reports that some epilepsy medications are unavailable, and dispensing others results in financial losses. Patel’s pharmacy lost £140,000 last year on NHS medicines, reflecting a broader trend of financial pressure on pharmacies.
Impact on Patients and Pharmacies
Patients with long-term conditions face uncertainty and anxiety due to these shortages. Chris Henry, who has Parkinson’s disease, depends on Co Careldopa medication, which is also on the concessions list. He worries about running out of medication and the impact on his health and daily life.
Pharmacies are closing at an alarming rate, with 1,500 High Street pharmacies shutting since 2017 and 27 closures so far this year. The number of pharmacies in England is now at its lowest level in 20 years. This decline further limits patient access to essential medicines.
Rising global costs, including energy, transport, and raw materials like oil, contribute to higher medicine prices. Some manufacturers have indicated that UK prices are too low to make distribution viable, leading to shortages and increased wholesale costs.
Calls for Reform and Government Response
Experts warn that without reform, shortages will continue. The current reimbursement system is slow to adjust to price increases, forcing pharmacies to operate at a loss. The Independent Pharmacies Association has requested that medicine supply be added to the National Risk Register, but no response has been received.
Pharmacy leaders emphasize the need for the UK to become a more viable market for manufacturers by increasing medicine prices to ensure more resilient supplies. Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, described the system as broken, with pharmacies losing money on hundreds of common medications.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care stated that the majority of licensed medicines in the UK are in good supply. They noted that processes are in place to respond to sudden price increases and adjust reimbursement prices accordingly to help pharmacies continue to obtain medicines for patients.