A new report from the House of Lords Public Services Committee calls for better data sharing and a more proactive Government approach to managing medicines shortages, describing medicines supply as “a national security issue”.

Published today (4th February), the report on the Lords Committee’s inquiry into medicines security concludes that the UK is heavily dependent on a fragile, international supply chain for essential drugs, making it particularly vulnerable to manufacturing issues, geopolitical tension and natural disasters. It describes how this is putting the country’s medicines security at significant risk, warning that any largescale disruption would constitute a major national emergency.

Community Pharmacy England gave evidence to the inquiry last year, warning that reimbursement pressures and a lack of flexibility in dispensing is exacerbating medicines supply issues. The inquiry’s also report quotes our Pharmacy Pressures Survey 2025: Medicines Supply Report, which indicated medicines shortages and supply disruptions remain widespread, with no improvement since the pandemic.

Whilst there are some procedures in place to support community pharmacy teams in supplying medicines during a shortage – such as Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) – Community Pharmacy England told the inquiry these are “cumbersome, clunky and hard to operate”. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) supported this criticism, stating that the limited scope of SSPs “significantly reduces the potential of this service to make any meaningful impact”.

After reflecting on all the evidence submitted to the inquiry, the Lords Committee made a number of policy and regulatory recommendations for Government, including:

  • Designate medicines security as a national security risk and include it on the National Risk Register;
  • Appoint a Senior Responsible Officer with cross‑government authority to lead medicines resilience policy and national preparedness exercises;
  • Require stronger information sharing from manufacturers and wholesalers, with consequences for failing to report supply issues;
  • Create a public Critical Medicines List and list of critical Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), and explore targeted stockpiling these items;
  • Accelerate supply-chain digitisation and mandate 2D barcodes to improve traceability and stock management; and
  • Reform procurement to prioritise supply chain resilience (not just price) and support medicines regulatory authorities to reduce delays in licensing, inspection, and approvals.

In terms of community pharmacy’s role in medicines security, the Lords Committee specifically recommended:

  • Provide more proactive communications to pharmacies when shortages arise; and
  • Give pharmacists greater substitution powers during shortages, supported by reciprocal access to stock information with NHS bodies in the next CPCF.

Read the Medicines security – a national priority report

Community Pharmacy England is seeking further discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on pharmacy-related medicines supply concerns and has called for a full review of the medicines supply market. We are also warning Government and the NHS about how the work that pharmacies have to do to source medicines, as well as the constrained margin that they are allowed to earn across an ever-growing medicines volume, are adding to the already intense financial challenges that pharmacies are facing.

Dr. James Davies, Director of Research and Insights at Community Pharmacy England, and who gave evidence to the inquiry said:

“Today’s Lords Committee report is yet more clear evidence of the escalating medicines supply crisis. Shortages continue to impact patients and place huge pressure on community pharmacies, with our most recent data showing that one in four teams are spending more than two hours a day sourcing alternatives for their patients. We cannot let persistent shortages become business as usual.

The Committee’s recommendations mirror what we have been calling for over many years: decisive Government action to stabilise the medicines market, address supply chain fragility, and prevent further supplier withdrawals driven by the UK’s low price environment. Like the Lords, we urge the Government to bring forward legislation for pharmacist flexibilities as soon as possible. Pharmacies are working harder than ever to ensure patients have access to the medicines they need while facing intense financial strain, and the situation is simply unacceptable.

We welcome the Committee shining a spotlight on these issues and urge Government and the NHS to act now. We are seeking further discussions with DHSC and will continue pushing for the changes that patients and pharmacies urgently need.”

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