Nearly three quarters of pharmacists believe the UK medicines supply chain is not fit for purpose and one in eight of them has seen patients seriously harmed as a result, C+D can reveal.

Seventy-four per cent of pharmacists said that the supply chain is not working, in response to C+D Stocks Survey 2012. Sixty-one per cent of the 365 respondents said it is only a matter of time before patients are seriously harmed and 13 per cent said patients are suffering already. 

Twenty-six per cent of pharmacists were more positive, insisting that patients mostly received their medicines without a problem – compared with 19 per cent in 2011.  

"We have gone from world class to probably second rate" Mike Hewitson, Beaminster Pharmacy	More on stock shortages PSNC accuses wholesalers of hiking generics prices Video: Your say on stock shortages Government group piles pressure on manufacturers       over shortages MORE NEWS
	The survey revealed last month that 43 per cent of pharmacists hardly ever received medicines within 24 hours of ordering them. More than 40 per cent typically had to wait three days for an emergency supply from manufacturers and 17 per cent of readers typically waited more than four days.

The Department of Health (DH) told C+D this week that it is monitoring medicine supply closely and is working with the supply chain "to make sure medicines are available when and where they are needed."

But Mike Hewitson, owner of Beaminster Pharmacy, Dorset, said it was clear that the supply chain is not working. About 10 years ago he was able to order medicines in the morning and receive them by lunchtime, he said, but this is no longer the case. "We have gone from world class to probably second rate."

Pharmacist Amish Patel, owner of Hodgson's Pharmacy in Kent, said the system is fit for purpose but "like everything, there are problems".

"I don't think stock shortages can be blamed on the supply chain necessarily. I can't think of a different or better [system] that could save me time," he added.

Martin Sawer, executive director of the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers, said the supply chain is "working well" in distributing medicines. However, Mr Sawer added that it needs to be "policed" by the MHRA and DH to ensure a continuous supply.

"I do not think that it's fractured or beyond repair," he said. "Sometimes there is a problem, where there is a quota issue or people selling [stocks] overseas."

"I would like to see a proper functioning market with manufacturers and wholesalers working close to pharmacy and pharmacists to be confident they can get medicines within 24 hours" he added.   

PSNC chief executive Sue Sharpe said the negotiator is pressing the government for solutions to medicine shortages.

"With all the evidence we have seen over the past few years, no one can deny that medicines-supply problems are having a very real impact on both community pharmacy and patients," she said.

What could be done to improve the supply of medicines to patients? Comment below or email us at [email protected] You can also find C+D on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook