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Dr Skinner is quite right to raise concerns over the lack of
aviailability of critical anaesthetic agents over recent months. The
shortages which he describes, however, extend far beyond anaesthesia, and
are indicative of major problems within markets for a wide range of
generic and branded medicines.
The last eighteen months to two years has seen unprecendented numbers
of serious shortages of critical medicines. The causes of such shortages
have varied, but in the majority of cases a real risk of clinical care
being compromised has been present. Such a situation has been compounded
by developments within the global pharmaceutical industry where decisions
have been taken to discontinue products with seemingly limited commercial
value irrespectve of their clinical importance. It seems likely that as
the pharmaceutical industry consolidates such problems within the
medicines supply chain will worsen.
There is , therefore, a real and pressing need for a more
collaborative and proactive approach to the management of "fragile"
pharmaceuticals markets, such as those for bupivacaine. Such an approach
should involve the industry, Department of Health, and practitioners from
within the NHS. Without such a development it can only be a matter of time
before the lack of availability of a critical product causes major
consequences for care within the NHS as a whole
Martin Shepherd
Head of Pharmacy Services
Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Royal Hospital NHS Trust,
Chesterfield,
Derbyshire
S44 5bl
Continuity of supply of drugs is critical
Dr Skinner is quite right to raise concerns over the lack of
aviailability of critical anaesthetic agents over recent months. The
shortages which he describes, however, extend far beyond anaesthesia, and
are indicative of major problems within markets for a wide range of
generic and branded medicines.
The last eighteen months to two years has seen unprecendented numbers
of serious shortages of critical medicines. The causes of such shortages
have varied, but in the majority of cases a real risk of clinical care
being compromised has been present. Such a situation has been compounded
by developments within the global pharmaceutical industry where decisions
have been taken to discontinue products with seemingly limited commercial
value irrespectve of their clinical importance. It seems likely that as
the pharmaceutical industry consolidates such problems within the
medicines supply chain will worsen.
There is , therefore, a real and pressing need for a more
collaborative and proactive approach to the management of "fragile"
pharmaceuticals markets, such as those for bupivacaine. Such an approach
should involve the industry, Department of Health, and practitioners from
within the NHS. Without such a development it can only be a matter of time
before the lack of availability of a critical product causes major
consequences for care within the NHS as a whole
Martin Shepherd
Head of Pharmacy Services
Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Royal Hospital NHS Trust,
Chesterfield,
Derbyshire
S44 5bl
Competing interests: No competing interests