Commenting on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's report published today on medicine shortages, Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association said:
“Medicines shortages are unsustainable for pharmacists and potentially harmful for patients. The NPA has repeatedly demanded action from Government to get a grip on this issue.
“It is good that the RPS too is taking steps to keep up the momentum for change, because it cannot be acceptable that medicines shortages have become a near-permanent fixture in the UK.
“Making better use of pharmacists’ clinical skills and reforming the reimbursement elements of the NHS contractual framework would go some way to easing the pressure on frontline services.
“But there also needs to be clearer accountability within government to ensure progress is driven and sustained over the long term.
“Both patients and pharmacies need meaningful change.”
