Surge in drug supply problems reflects lack of government insight, says industry leader

Medicine shortages have doubled in the past two years, with 101 drug supply problems reported this month compared with 52 reported in February 2022, the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) has warned.1Mark Samuels, BGMA chief executive officer, said the trend2 suggests the problem is worsening and that on a local level “drug shortages are among the top items on some integrated care boards’ risk registers.”Despite repeatedly raising the matter with ministers since 2021, Samuels suggested there has been little progress. “We’re very concerned about it,” he said. “I don’t see a plan currently,” he told MPs on the Health and Social Care Committee on 19 February for their inquiry into pharmacy services.A spokesperson for BGMA told The BMJ that of the 101 supply problems reported this month, 86 with about generic or branded generic drugs used to treat conditions such as ADHD, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease,…
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