Medication shortages worsen in England, risking patient health

Patients in England are facing severe shortages of critical medications, including those used to treat epilepsy, due to ongoing supply issues and NHS pricing policies.

The situation has reached a critical point, with hundreds of everyday drugs becoming difficult to obtain across the country.

One affected patient, 29-year-old Chloe, who has epilepsy, has been unable to access her life-saving Lamotrigine medication.

She reported that her seizures returned after missing doses, resulting in a fall that caused a significant injury.

Chloe described the experience as terrifying and highlighted the anxiety caused by the difficulty in obtaining necessary medication.

The shortages are impacting a wide range of patients, including those with heart conditions, stroke risks, eye infections, bipolar disorder, and ADHD.

Pharmacies across England are frequently unable to supply the medications patients require, leading to delays and increased patient distress.

The root causes of the shortages include surging global prices for medications and a complex NHS reimbursement system.

The NHS pays pharmacies a fixed price for each medicine dispensed, but when market prices rise above this amount, the medication is added to the government's price concessions list.

In April 2026, this list reached a record high with 210 named medications.

Pharmacies are reimbursed at the concession price, but sudden market price increases can exceed even this amount, causing pharmacies to dispense medications at a loss.

This financial strain limits their ability to maintain adequate stock, exacerbating shortages.

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