Pharmacies are grappling with escalating shortages of crucial medication, including blood pressure drugs and aspirin, due to severe supply constraints and underfunding by the NHS, according to industry leaders. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) recently raised concerns about widespread shortages of aspirin, a drug essential for preventing heart attacks and strokes in certain individuals.

This follows reported shortages of blood pressure medications such as propranolol and ramipril. While some shortages can be attributed to global supply issues, pharmacists have warned that a discrepancy between the cost of dispensing drugs and the reimbursement pharmacies receive from the NHS is exacerbating the situation.

The NPA revealed that the price of a packet of aspirin 75mg dispersible tablets had surged from 18p earlier last year to £3.90 in January, yet the NHS only reimburses pharmacies £2.18 per packet. Similarly, the blood pressure drug Irbesartan costs pharmacies £6.09, but they only receive £1.68 from the NHS, according to NPA analysis.

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Henry Gregg, chief executive of the NPA, told the i Paper: "It is a scandal that all too often pharmacies are subsidising the cost of the nation's medicines. It pushes pharmacies to the edge of closure and exacerbates chronic problems with medicine supply."

He added: "The Government must stop funding pharmacies below the cost price of medicines - no other part of the NHS would tolerate this."

A report by the Company Chemists' Association (CAA) this week has warned that pharmacy dispensing is struggling under record NHS demand and inflation. CAA chief executive Malcolm Harrison stated: "Dispensing, whilst often undervalued and overlooked, provides enormous benefits to patients, the NHS and taxpayers."

He added, "Community pharmacies remain the cornerstone of local, accessible, high-quality healthcare, yet mounting pressures threaten their ability to fulfil this role."

He further commented, "Decades of underfunding have weakened the sector, and without urgent investment and reform, patient access to essential services will be at risk."

Pharmacy leaders are calling on the Government to grant them more powers to substitute medicines in order to tackle shortages, reports the Express.

Currently, they are limited from making even simple substitutions for prescribed medications that are out of stock, forcing patients to contact their GP for a new prescription. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said: "It is incredibly worrying to see shortages of essential medicines such as aspirin and blood pressure treatments appearing in pharmacies."

She continued, "These low stock levels are partly due to manufacturing delays, but also because pharmacies are simply unable to order the quantities they need."

She concluded by saying, "The reality is that the prices paid for many medicines by the NHS are so low that manufacturers often prioritise supplying other countries instead, leaving the UK pushed to the back of the queue.

"It is vital that the Government urgently reviews how medicines are reimbursed to pharmacies, otherwise these shortages will only worsen.

"In the meantime, anyone affected by a medicine shortage should speak to their local pharmacist, who is a highly trained healthcare professional and can advise on suitable alternatives where available."