Pharmacies facing shortages of key medicines including for diabetes and ADHD 

A survey of members found that more than four in five pharmacists believe the problem will get worse over the next year, potentially impacting medical conditions, and causing considerable stress and inconvenience for patients.

Every pharmacy in Ireland has been hit by medicine shortages so far this year, with steroid cream to treat eczema, ADHD medication and diabetes drug Ozempic “in short supply”, the Irish Pharmacy Union has said.

It said a survey of members found that more than four in five pharmacists believe the problem will get worse over the next year, potentially impacting medical conditions, and causing considerable stress and inconvenience for patients.

“Behind each medicine that is in short supply are patients who need them for their health and wellbeing,” the IPU’s head of strategic policy Clare Fitzell said.

“Pharmacists are highly experienced and work with prescribers to source alternatives where required. However, this process is often time consuming for healthcare providers and takes too long for patients.” 

Her comments came as pharmacists gathered at the weekend for the IPU's annual general meeting in Athlone which also passed a motion calling on the Minister for Health to appoint a chief pharmaceutical officer in his department.

Ms Fitzell said that the amount of time pharmacies spend handling medicine shortages has increased significantly since 2018 with pharmacists spending just under five hours a week managing this issue. Six years ago, it was typical for pharmacists to spend 5-10 hours a month on this issue.

The IPU said that the Health Miscellaneous Provisions Bill currently before the Oireachtas would allow the minister to introduce a scheme where pharmacists can use substitute medicines for patients without needing to revert to the prescribing doctor.

“This should dramatically speed up the process for both pharmacists and prescribers and crucially will ensure that patients get appropriate medicines quicker,” Ms Fitzell added.

“There are very obvious and beneficial proposals that can be introduced, and the patients of Ireland cannot afford for these to be delayed any longer.” 

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly

 Addressing the conference, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly sought to reassure pharmacists of his support and expressed his hope for Ireland to become one of the leading countries in the world for services that are available to the public in pharmacies.

He said he was prioritising legislation that would solidify the role of community pharmacies for vaccinations and would provide pharmacists with more options in the case of medicines shortages.

“Two weeks ago I secured Government agreement on a third measure which I’m introducing to the Bill by way of amendment,” he said. “This will provide for pharmacy prescribing. [An expert taskforce] is reporting back on the medicines and situations this will apply to, and one that I’m keen to see is oral contraception.” 

 Mr Donnelly said he also acknowledged the “clear view” of the IPU that fees need to be increased after the period of high inflation and had asked the Department of Health and the HSE to reverse the increasing bureaucracy being placed on pharmacists around the country.