Lack of branded medicines 'hitting patients hard'

The UK is facing a serious shortage of branded medicines and the problem has got worse in the last year, have warned.

Drugs intended for UK patients are being exported for sale abroad to take advantage of exchange rates and there have been issues with pharmaceutical company quota systems.

The Chemist and Druggist Stock Survey 2010 found more than 80 per cent of pharmacists think getting hold of branded medicines is tougher than ever, leaving patients facing long waits.

The Parkinson's drug Sinemet, breast cancer drug Femara, schizophrenia medicine Zyprexa and the anti-depressant Cipralexare are among the most difficult to obtain.

Almost 90 per cent of pharmacists spent more than an hour a week trying to source key medicines and most were braced for worse in 2011, with 60 per cent predicting wide shortages.

Some said shortages had triggered suffering in patients with life-threatening illnesses.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry called for urgent government action to stop the overseas sale of medicines intended for UK patients.

Richard Barker, its director general, said: "Manufacturers have supplied more than enough medicines to satisfy patient demand in the UK but there is still not enough getting through to the front line."