Call for EU law change to solve medicines shortage crisis

A UK Parliamentary group has warned that patients are suffering because of a shortage of some National Health Service prescription medicines. In its report, the All-Party Pharmacy Group (APPG) said the shortages had been mainly caused by the export of medicines intended for the UK market to other European Union countries. This exporting is conducted by speculators and is legal under EU and UK law, the report noted.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency should do more to address supply problems and consider limiting the growth in drug wholesaler licenses, the APPG urged. Kevin Barron, chairman of the APPG, suggested that there was also scope within European legislation for the government to exempt certain goods from free movement if there was a threat to public health. Other countries, including France, are now investigating the possibility of prohibiting the export of medicines. Mr Barron said "this government needs to urgently look at what they can learn from this."

Responding to the All-Party Pharmacy Group report into medicines shortages the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has backed calls for changes to EU law that will put public protection before profit in medicines supply.