Medicine shortages are extremely problematic at present across a number of key lines both on POMs and on OTC products.
We have been in contact with both the HPRA and the HSE to discuss this issue and are continuing to advocate for the introduction of protocols for therapeutic substitution by pharmacists. We are monitoring the situation closely and have updated our NHPC shortages list with key OTC lines and including the date of return to the market.
Unfortunately, due to the high demand for these lines, the situation may not improve in the short term.
Our annual medicine shortages survey is now open, and we encourage as many of you to answer this survey as possible. Your responses will assist us in assessing the current situation to meaningfully engage in policy discussion around this subject. It will also enable us to more accurately highlight the workload involved in each community pharmacy managing this issue.
This survey will remain open until 12 January at 5 pm and can be accessed here.
Thank you for participating in this important advocacy survey for our patients and for the community pharmacy sector.
