Mo Almobaraki, 57, who runs two pharmacies in Bristol, has issued a stark warning about the UK's 'most severe drug shortage on record,' affecting millions who rely on essential medications including statins, heart medication, and blood pressure drugs.
Soaring Prices and Supply Crunch
Almobaraki revealed that statin prices shot up 'overnight' from £1 to £22 last week. With five million people in England taking statins, he warned that 'thousands, maybe millions' of packets are dispensed daily, but pharmacies are left footing the bill.
'People are worried about their medication - elderly people - and they can't get it,' Mo said. 'It's just so difficult and so concerning.'
Impossible Choices for Pharmacies
The crisis means pharmacies face impossible choices between refusing patients medication or operating at a loss. 'Either we refuse to give it to the patients because we are unable to obtain it or if we are able to obtain it we have to pay extra, above the reimbursements from the NHS,' he explained.
Calls for Government Intervention
Mo says the shortage has worsened since the pandemic and is calling for government intervention. 'The Government needs to step in and to support pharmacies because we are kind of 'hands tied' in obtaining medicine,' he urged.
Government Response
A Department of Health spokesperson insisted the 'overwhelming majority of medicines licensed in the UK are in good supply' and said the government is investing in UK medicine manufacturing.
