Pharmacies are warning of a national shortage of aspirin.
Health officials have banned the drug, which is used to prevent strokes and heart attacks, from being exported or hoarded because it is in such short supply following delays to manufacturing.
Long-term treatment with low-dose 75mg aspirin has an antiplatelet effect, meaning it can stop blood clots developing and help prevent heart attacks and stroke.
Pharmacists have been tightly rationing supplies of aspirin for patients with the most acute heart conditions or those in need of emergency prescriptions, according to The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which represents about 6,000 pharmacies.
Olivier Picard, chairman of the NPA, said: “We’re concerned about reports of pharmacies being unable to order in stocks of aspirin and the implications this might have for the patients they serve.
“For those pharmacies that can get hold of supply, costs will far exceed what they will be reimbursed by the NHS, yet more signs of a fundamentally broken pharmacy contract in desperate need of reform by the Government.”
A doctor may prescribe aspirin for people who have had a heart attack or stroke, a transient ischemic attack (TIA), angina, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or who have had surgery.
Cost to pharmacies
Pharmacists have told how the “incredibly worrying” situation was fuelling price increases – with a packet of aspirin 75mg dispersible tablets going from 18p earlier last year to £3.90 this month.
The NPA says because the NHS will only reimburse pharmacies £2.18 a packet, an average pharmacy will lose £1.72 each time it is dispensed.
The price of a packet of aspirin went from 18p earlier last year to £3.90 this month Credit: Adie Bush
The NPA is calling for reform of the rules which restrict pharmacies from supplying an alternative drug or preparation to what is on a prescription.
Mr Picard 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 supply an alternative. The 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.”
The Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA), which represents more than 5,000 pharmacists, also warned of struggles to source the drug, with manufacturing delays partly to blame.
Stocks have run out
All forms of aspirin have been added to the Government’s export ban list to protect supplies for UK patients.
The NPA ran a snap survey of 540 UK pharmacies this week and found 86 per cent reported being unable to supply aspirin to their patients in the previous seven days.
The problem is worse for the 75mg dose, though all types are affected.
Several pharmacies said they have also stopped making aspirin available for over-the-counter sales.
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the IPA, said: “It is incredibly worrying to see shortages of essential medicines such as aspirin and blood pressure treatments appearing in pharmacies.
“These low stock levels are partly due to manufacturing delays, but also because pharmacies are simply unable to order the quantities they need.
“The reality is that the prices paid for many medicines by the NHS are so low that manufacturers often prioritise supplying other countries instead, leaving the UK pushed to the back of the queue.
Urgent Government action needed
“When limited stock becomes available, then the prices shoot up to levels that become unaffordable for pharmacies to order and they are left severely out of pocket.
“It is vital that the Government urgently reviews how medicines are reimbursed to pharmacies, otherwise these shortages will only worsen.
“In the meantime, anyone affected by a medicine shortage should speak to their local pharmacist, who is a highly trained healthcare professional and can advise on suitable alternatives where available.”
Community Pharmacy England director of research and insights, James Davies, said medicine shortages “remain a significant concern for both patients and community pharmacies”.
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