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HoC Answers - 23.2.12
Shortages
Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour, Ogmore): To ask the Secretary of State for Health:
(1) what assessment he has made of the time taken to supply prescription medications to local pharmacies;
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of patients affected by the time taken in the supply of medicine to local pharmacies;
(3) what assessment he has made of the parallel exportation of medicines from the UK market to other European markets;
(4) what assessment he has made of the (a) time and (b) money spent by local pharmacists in acquiring emergency supplies of medicines from wholesalers, manufacturers and other pharmacists for patients;
(5) what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a shortage of raw materials on the supply of prescription medicines to local pharmacies;
(6) if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of pharmacists spending between one and three hours per week securing medications for their customers' prescriptions.
Mr Simon Burns (Minister of State for Health): Pharmacies make their own commercial arrangements with suppliers and therefore the information is not centrally held.
Medicines supply is a large and complex market and while the majority of medicines are supplied to patients in an appropriate time scale, we are aware that pharmacies are experiencing difficulties in obtaining some medicines which in turn causes delay in getting these medicines to patients. The Department continues to work collaboratively with the medicines supply chain stakeholders (including those representing retail pharmacists) to better understand and mitigate the impact of supply difficulties so that patients receive the medicines they need promptly.
Posted 23 February 2012