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Pharmacists are reporting a UK-wide shortage of antibiotics used to treat strep A, despite the health secretary insisting the government is “not aware” of the problem.
Demand for penicillin and amoxicillin has increased in recent days as the number of cases of strep A among children in schools has increased. Independent pharmacies say they cannot replenish stocks of antibiotics because wholesalers say there is no availability.
Steve Barclay, the health secretary, told Times Radio on Wednesday that officials were “not aware of any shortages” and that drug manufacturers “need to notify us if there are supply issues, and we haven’t been notified by them”.
Lela Hanbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, said pharmacists across the country were reporting they could not refill many types of antibiotics and were dealing with angry customers who she said had been misled by the health secretary.
“The government can say what they want but we are on the frontline and we know what is happening,” she said. “I want to make very clear the frustration among healthcare professionals because we don’t want to disappoint our patients, we have people coming in, parents, we just need to plan better. Our hands are very much tied, the government must act now.
She said she received reports of patients visiting 12 pharmacies to try to find one of the antibiotics used to treat strep A.
Hanbeck said there was a widespread systemic problem of shortages of routine medicines, exemplified by the HRT shortage earlier in the year.
“We constantly find ourselves in situations where we cannot get the supply we need as soon as the demand increases. It’s becoming the norm now and it’s very difficult for healthcare professionals on the frontline to manage this, especially when the government says there’s supply – they should just say we’re looking at making sure the pharmacies are getting it. are
She said pharmacies had repeatedly asked the Department of Health and Social Care to bring wholesalers and manufacturers around the table to discuss how to prevent future shortages, but had been rebuffed.
Her understanding is that manufacturers are blaming raw material bottlenecks due to the coronavirus lockdown in East Asia for the shortage.
Liverpool University drug expert Dr. Andrew Hill said there is a worldwide shortage of amoxicillin, with health authorities in France, Spain, the US, Canada and Australia reporting a lack of supply, “after a recent wave of increased demand for the drug. Various infections, mainly in children.”
Strep is a common infection in children and most cases are mild or asymptomatic, although it can cause scarlet fever, strep throat, and bacteria can enter the bloodstream and lungs, causing sepsis.
Antibiotic treatment is usually indicated only in more severe cases because of concerns surrounding antibiotic resistance. However, recent guidance has told GPs to be especially vigilant for strep A, which may mean they are more likely to prescribe antibiotics.
Barclays said that in areas where demand has increased sharply, there are “well-established processes in terms of moving stock between our wholesale depots”.
He said: “We have a dedicated team permanently in the department who do this day-in, day-out, and they’ve reassured me – I checked back with them last night, knowing I’m coming to the media this morning – And he said he’s not aware of any shortages, but sometimes obviously you get a peak in demand in a certain area and the stock moves accordingly.”
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