A record number of medicinal products are facing supply issues according to a monthly report from the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA), the representative trade body for off-patent prescription medicines.
The BGMA says 111 products are now facing supply issues, which is the highest figure on record and more than double since the start of 2022.
Drugs affected by shortages include HRT, contraceptives and immunosuppressants, and treatments for anaphylaxis, ADHD, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, lung conditions, epilepsy, acne, osteoporosis, mental health (antidepressants), and heart disease. Many of the drugs affected are what is known as ‘branded generics’, which are subject to the Government’s ‘voluntary’ scheme for branded medicines pricing and access (VPAS) rebate rate.
VPAS aims to limit increases in spending on branded medicines. In the last two years the rate has increased from 5.1% to 26.5%.
Approaching half the products in the current scheme are a branded generic or biosimilar medicine and therefore already subject to cost controls via competition and NHS tenders but for reasons - often tied to regulatory compliance - they are required to have a brand name and pay the VPAS rebate rate as well. With already small profit margins for off-patent medicines, the rebate has made many products economically unviable, and manufacturers are opting not to continue to supply some drugs, or allocating them to other countries where they are subject to less tax. Mark Samuels, Chief Executive of the BGMA, said: ‘Supply issues for generic medicines are on the rise and patients are sadly being impacted as they represent four out of five NHS prescriptions.’ The BGMA has called for the scheme to be renegotiated to avoid medicines shortages from becoming increasingly common.
