At Health Questions in the House of Commons today, Huw Irranca-Davies MP pressed the Secretary of State for Health on delays to “life savings drugs for, amongst other things, asthma, diabetes and cancer”.
Mr Irranca-Davies, Labour MP for Ogmore in Wales, told Andrew Lansley that pharmacies continue to experience problems obtaining prompt supplies.
He asked what more can be done to make sure that manufacturers and wholesalers help pharmacies get the medicines they require to meet the needs of their patients.
Pharmacy Voice Chairman Ian Facer said:
“Medicines supply delays are a real and present danger to some patients. I am dismayed that the Secretary of State failed to take seriously the question posed in Parliament this afternoon. He gave every impression that the matter of supply delays is already solved. It most certainly is not. Huw Irranca-Davies made the valid point that manufacturers and wholesalers must do all they can to help pharmacists get medicines to patients when and where they need them.
A number of European countries have introduced a ‘Public Service Obligation’ on the medicines supply chain to ensure prompt medicines supply. The Government needs to enter into a serious dialogue about legal obligations in the UK. Pharmacy Voice will be writing to the Secretary of State to make this point in the strongest terms.
“This matter remains a priority for Pharmacy Voice, because we know pharmacists up a down the country care deeply about convenient and safe supply of medicines. All parties in the supply chain must keep their eyes fixed firmly on the needs of patients.”