Commenting on a new Serious Shortage Protocol issued by the Department of Health for certain strengths of dispersible Lansoprazole, Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association said:
"We are concerned by these shortages of Lansoprazole, which is one of many shortages of medicines that pharmacies and their patients have had to grapple with.
"This joins a growing list of medicines that pharmacies are finding it hard to source for patients this year, including Ramipril, Aspirin, Co-codamol and Creon to name a few.
"Any patient relying on orodispersible Lansoprazole should speak to their GP and pharmacy to ensure they have continued access to the treatment they need.
"This could include limiting supply to one month or moving to an alternative strength, where this is clinically appropriate and supplies are available.
"The government should allow pharmacists to make appropriate substitutions to ensure patients do not have to go back to their GP to find an alternative.
"Pharmacies are increasingly facing supply problems affecting everyday medicines on which millions rely upon, with some describing shortages as the worst they have ever experienced.
"Whilst the medicine supply chain is complex, the rising problem of shortages across a wide range of medicines is extremely worrying for patients and heartbreaking for pharmacists who go to great lengths to ensure they don't turn them away.
"Fragility in the global supply chain is worsened by international instability and the new Health Secretary must convene an urgent taskforce to fully grip this chronic problem."
