THE conflict spreading across the Middle East could trigger shortages in vital medications in the UK, pharmacists have warned.
The Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) said the crisis could impact global supply chains by making raw materials for drugs “harder to source”,drivingup energy costs and causing transport delays.
Drugs like blood pressure medication, painkillers and antidepressants are already affected by supply issues, the organisation’s CEO Dr Leyla Hannbeck said.
She warned the conflict – which started with USstrikesinIranbefore unfolding to Israel, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Syria and Iraq – could exacerbate the problem.
Dr Hannbeck said: “Pharmacies up and down the country are reporting worsening medicines shortages.
“The ongoing conflict in the Middle East further risks shortages as pharmaceutical raw materials become harder to source, energy costs rise, and transport delays mount.
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“Ministers must act now before these pressures worsen and the impact on patients becomes critical.”
A Government spokesperson said: “There are currently no reported medicine shortages as a result of conflict in the Middle East and it is irresponsible to speculate otherwise.
“We actively monitor emerging threats to supply resilience and have established processes in place to manage disruption across the health and social care sector.”
Source: Drudge Report
