Responding to the launch of a government consultation into allowing pharmacists flexibility to make substitutions to medicines when there are supply issues, Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association said:
"We've long called for pharmacists to be able to make substitutions where a medicine is not in stock and it is safe to do so.
"It is good the government have listened to the NPA and others and have launched a consultation on this issue.
“The current status quo is not only frustrating for patients, it is also dangerous.
“It is madness to send someone back to their GP to get a prescription changed when a safe alternative is in stock. It risks a patient either delaying taking vital medication or forgoing it altogether, which poses a clear risk to patient safety.
"However, any changes introduced must be simple and provide genuine flexibility to pharmacists. They should not just be an extension of existing out of date systems that do not help pharmacists adequately manage systemic and sporadic medicine shortages.
"We look forward to receiving more details and would urge pharmacies to respond to this consultation."
Notes to editors
The National Pharmacy Association represents around 6000 community pharmacies across the UK.
A survey of NPA members found that:
98 per cent of pharmacies were unable to supply medicines to patients at least once a day despite having a safe alternative in stock.
95 per cent of pharmacies reported that some patients simply went without medication when being referred back to their prescriber, despite a pharmacy having a safe alternative formulation in stock that they were prevented from dispensing.
97 per cent of pharmacies reported patients waiting for at least a day whilst highly trained pharmacists have to request a new prescription from the prescriber. Some pharmacies have even reported patients waiting for over three weeks to get a new prescription for certain medicines.
