Pharmacy chief warns they are ‘struggling to obtain the very basic, most common cold and flu medicines’ but still no action from Ministers

The chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies has warned on Wednesday that there is a shortage of the “the very basic” of “cold and flu medicines.”

The industry group are warning there are supply issues of branded and unbranded medicines and the public are being urged “not to panic.”

Chief executive Leyla Hannbeck said that pharmacists were “struggling to obtain the very basic, most common cold and flu medicine.”

She wrote that “The medicines supply concerns continue.

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“Below an example of empty shelves in pharmacies re common flu medicines as supply is struggling to meet the demand.

“For months we’ve asked

“@DHSCgovuk to hold stakeholder discussions to suggest solutions & plan better, but no action yet, why?”

The medicines supply concerns continue. Below an example of empty shelves in pharmacies re common flu medicines as supply is struggling to meet the demand. For months we’ve asked @DHSCgovuk to hold stakeholder discussions to suggest solutions &plan better,but no action yet, why? pic.twitter.com/n4uM7kRqGP

— Leyla Hannbeck (@LeylaHannbeck) January 3, 2023

Hannbeck added, “This isn’t just the branded medicines, it is also simple things like throat lozenges, cough mixtures or painkillers – particularly the ones that are soluble.

“The demand has been high because this season we’ve seen higher cases of colds and flu and people are obviously trying very hard to look after themselves and making sure that they use the relevant products to manage the symptoms.

“And that has led to a shortage of these products in terms of us not being able to obtain them.

“On the front line it is very difficult because we’re seeing these shortages but those people who are in charge of supporting us with it are denying it.”

She continued that it is concerning”when people go to pharmacies and try and get hold of the products over the counter, particularly for small children, then people start to stress and panic and what we don’t want to happen is for more people to go to their GP or A&E when the NHS is already under a lot of strain.”