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Shortage of drugs exacerbated by Brexit!

(6 Posts)
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CvD66 Sat 20-Apr-24 12:12:44

The Nuffield Trust Health Thinktank have reported the scarcity of 1634 commonly used drugs.This is significantly higher than the 648 drug shortages in 2020. Although Covid and the Ukraine war has not helped the problem, Brexit severely aggravated the situation through customs checks and leaving the European Medicines Agency, as originally foretold. Pharmacies and GPs talk about the challenge of getting drugs needed by patients. People are spending hours, travelling huge distance to try to obtain diabetes, epilepsy or ADHD drugs, among others. Families talk about having to ration drugs. People affected are having to go to GPs more and health deterioration leads to hospitalisation.
The fall in sterling in 2016 plus other problems with drug supply has led to huge price increase currently costing the UK £220m extra in 2022-23.
So lets think how these shortages are affecting our country’s GDP growth, our children's well being and the health of this nation and ask this Tory party: why have you let this happen?

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Whitewavemark2 Sat 20-Apr-24 12:20:25

This of course leads into the “sick list” the nasty party is waving around under our noses at the moment.

Try being an epileptic at the moment or a Ritalin user, amongst others. Life is very difficult at the moment.

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Whitewavemark2 Sat 20-Apr-24 12:22:53

There is in fact a world wide drug shortage, but Brexit has certainly exacerbated it.

The EU has been laying down a stock for all its members for quite some time now, so EU membership will ensure drug shortage difficulties are much, much less.

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Germanshepherdsmum Sat 20-Apr-24 13:13:36

I am an epileptic Wwm. My drugs are old fashioned (prescribed 56 years ago) but I cannot change them for more modern ones without giving up driving for six months (and longer if the change causes a seizure). The drugs have been difficult to obtain for many years, long before Brexit.

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CvD66 Sat 20-Apr-24 15:07:01

Germanshepherdsmum I am sorry to hear of your drug struggles. However this posting is highlighting the massive increase in shortages of common drugs in one year from 648 to 1634 - a massive 40% and not merely epilepsy drugs!
I am sure your own drug sourcing issues makes you sympathetic of the many more people suffering since Brexit and the impact on their own health, that of their children, their loved ones and their workers.
How sad this government had failed to address this issue which has deteriorated significantly since leaving the EU. They have failed to put in place adequate alternative drug supply routes or UK drug approvals leading to these massive shortages

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Germanshepherdsmum Sat 20-Apr-24 15:58:36

It’s a long standing problem which has become much worse. I have, for years, ordered a repeat prescription as early as the GP will allow, and collected as late as I safely can. Even so, on occasion I have had to take my prescription to other pharmacies to find unavailable items or receive them in dribs and drabs. It’s a way of life and unfortunately many more will have to adopt the same approach if they’re not already doing so. It can be a huge inconvenience and there is always the worry of running out of medication though thankfully that hasn’t happened yet. GPs can safely substitute some drugs for others but for epilepsy and I’m sure other conditions that isn’t possible.
I’m glad I voted to Remain, fwiw.

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