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Medication for treating cholesterol, blood pressure and asthma issues are among 307 medicines now in short supply in Ireland, with 95 new medicines being added since January alone. This represents an 81% jump in the last year.
That’s according to the latest data from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), analysed by Azure Pharma in their Medicines Shortage Index this week. When the company started compiling the index, the number of shortages was only around 165.
The index found that there was a “severe shortage” of nebulising solution and low dose aspirin, which are used to treat people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. There are also shortages of cholesterol and blood pressure medicines.
“Recent research illustrated the worsening impact of the issue with 60% of the public impacted by shortages in the past year alone,” said Sandra Gannon, CEO of Azure Pharmaceuticals.
“Those countries who have adjusted their approach in response to this supply crisis are faring better than those who have not,” she said.
“Regrettably, at a policy level, Ireland is yet to acknowledge the cause and effect of this problem. On that basis, things look set to get worse before they get better,” she warned.
This revelation comes mere days after it was found that diabetes patients are being forced to ration their insulin use due to shortages.
Insulin shortage: “It’s a bit worrying that we’ve got to the stage where we have to ration a drug that is a matter of life and death for some patients. This is not something you can swap with another medicine.”https://t.co/1lW3zUU4aU
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) July 4, 2023
In February of this year it was revealed that many “critical” medicines were in short supply, including essential antibiotics like Penicillin and Amoxicillin, inhalers, and medications that treat high blood pressure, epilepsy, and hayfever, to name a few.
"This problem is not going to just go away”: Ireland is still experiencing shortages of hundreds of medicines, including inhalers, penicillin, and more.#gripthttps://t.co/bld5N1hnae
— gript (@griptmedia) February 21, 2023
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