The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has stressed that the best way to improve medicine supplies is to revamp its early warning systems
Representing the pharmaceutical industry, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has highlighted the main issues underpinning shocks to the medicine supply system. It has also advised on how to strengthen the supply chain in the UK, with an aim of protecting patients in the face of disruptions.
Although medicine supply issues are comparatively rare, their impact can be significant on patients, while healthcare professionals too shoulder concerns about disruptions both nationwide and further afield.
Shortages of raw materials, manufacturing constraints, geopolitical instability and sudden surges in demand all pile pressure on global supply chains, and it’s patients who ultimately suffer.
The ABPI’s recent report shows that the UK has approximately 14,000 licensed medicines, supplied through complex global networks. In the past year, 264 medicines were monitored under shortage protocols, with just a few product supply disruptions classified as critical. Most issues are resolved within 28 days, but some cases linger.
The report, developed alongside healthcare professionals, also reveals that 26% of pharmacy teams report spending more than two hours a day trying to obtain medicines or source alternatives.
It stated that most disruptions are found in generic medicines, which also form 75% of NHS prescriptions.
Speeding up the process
The ABPI has made various recommendations to the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS, regulators, wholesalers and pharmacists.
The main point is to improve early warning of supply issues by strengthening reporting systems to identify risks earlier and address them before patients are actually affected. Currently, most issues are resolved before this stage – and as the process of getting medications to patients can take up to 36 months, the importance of forward-planning has never been clearer.
Other suggestions included clearer, two-way data sharing between industry, the NHS and government, better collaborative planning across the system, encouraged use of artificial intelligence (AI) and regulatory flexibility for faster approvals and temporary use of alternative packs or imports.
“Systems to manage supply were stress tested like never before during the pandemic, as well as by the recent conflicts in Ukraine and now the Middle East,” said Ross Maclagan, head of supply and distribution policy at the ABPI.
“While the industry has met these challenges, global pressures are growing, and we cannot be complacent. That is why this report sets out practical recommendations to make an already resilient system even stronger, so patients can continue to get the medicines they need when they need them.”
The report will be updated in 2029.
