Inquiry into Medicines Shortages in England - Report - July 2025

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pharmacy has published its landmark report into medicines shortages in England, further revealing the scale and severity of the issues facing patients, pharmacists and the wider NHS.

The inquiry finds that medicines shortages have shifted from isolated incidents to a chronic, structural challenge. The APPG has found that with 96% of pharmacists spending increased time managing shortages and 92% reporting decreased patient satisfaction, the impact on frontline care is stark. Nearly two-thirds of pharmacists are contacting prescribers multiple times a day to resolve supply issues, while 40% spend between 1–2 hours daily managing shortages.

Patients are bearing the brunt. From ADHD and diabetes to epilepsy and menopause, shortages are disrupting treatment, forcing rationing, and in some cases, leading to serious health consequences.

In his foreword, Steve Race MP, Chair of the APPG on Pharmacy, said:

“Medicines shortages have moved from isolated incidents to a chronic structural challenge for both the NHS and pharmacy sector. As government continues to recognise and invest in the expanded clinical role of community pharmacy, we must ensure the medicines supply chain underpinning that care is equally robust, resilient and patient-focused. Pharmacy is central to NHS recovery and transformation, but frontline teams cannot safely expand clinical services while daily supply disruptions continue to impact the health of patients.”

Steve Race MP

The APPG makes 12 urgent recommendations, including empowering pharmacists to make safe substitutions, expanding domestic manufacturing, and creating a UK-wide real-time communication system for shortages.

The APPG will be engaging directly with Ministers, NHS leaders, and regulators over the coming months to press for urgent action. The APPG is also inviting the Department of Health and Social Care to formally respond to its recommendations ahead of winter 2025, when demand pressures are expected to escalate.

The Future of Pharmacy Manifesto - January 2023

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Oharmacy published a new report in Janurary 2023 following an inquiry conducted at the end of 2022 on the future of the pharmacy sector after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report highlights the need for a new “strategic vision” for pharmacy and highlights opportunities for the pharmacy network to be empowered to deliver even more for patients. However, the manifesto also underlines the very real risk that this opportunity may be lost if significant and ongoing pressures are not addressed.

The impact of Covid-19 Flash Inquiry Report - December 2020

The All-Party Pharmacy Group flash inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on pharmacy was conducted in November 2020 and published in December 2020. It examined the immediate and urgent pressures applied on pharmacy as a result of the pandemic.

The inquiry included a survey of 1,604 pharmacy professionals in England and a call for written and oral evidence.

In Good Health Inquiry Report - July 2019

The All Party Pharmacy Group inquiry into Long Term Conditions heard from organisations representing patients with a range of long term conditions as well as pharmacists and organisations representing pharmacy, to understand how care can be improved for people with long term conditions, and what part pharmacy could play on pharmacy.

It was conducted from 27th February 2018 to 14th May 2018. It examined the immediate and urgent pressures applied on pharmacy as a result of the pandemic.

Community Pharmacy Investigation - April 2017

In January 2017, the All-Party Pharmacy Group launched an investigation into the Government’s reforms of community pharmacy.

The aim of this investigation was to scrutinise aspects of the package announced in the House of Commons on 20th October 2016, to better understand the detail of what has been implemented, as well as the impact that the reforms will have on patient services, community pharmacy numbers, and the future direction of the sector.