British pharmacies are rationing one type of blood pressure medication as the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification amid supply chain issues. There are intermittent supply issues with ramipril 1.25mg capsules until the end of May 2026, according to a recent notice shared by Community Pharmacy England. A Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for ramipril 1.25mg capsules was issued on April 22, 2026. This allows community pharmacists to limit supply to one month.
The medicine helps the heart pump blood more efficiently by relaxing blood vessels. It is among the five most prescribed medicines in England, with figures from the NHS revealing that pharmacies handed out ramipril more than 35 million times in 2025. Experts have stressed that millions of Brits rely on this medication, and said that the Government must carefully manage alternative treatments available to patients. Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, is among those to share major concerns.
He told Sun Health: “We are concerned by this recent shortage, with a number of pharmacies being unable to order some strengths of Ramipril, as well as seeing the cost soar in recent weeks, in instances where stock can be found.
“Pharmacies are increasingly facing supply problems affecting everyday medicines on which millions rely every day.”
Other health experts have said that the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz could have knock-on effects on other medications as well. NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey previously warned that certain medicines, as well as supplies like gloves and syringes, could be in short supply.
DHSC and NHS England have launched an online Medicines Supply Tool, providing up-to-date information on supply chain issues pertaining to medicines for those with an NHS email address.
“Fragility in the global supply chain is worsened by international instability and the fact that long-term underfunding of pharmacies has driven down the price for medicines in the UK to unsustainable levels,” Dr Picard added.
31% of men and 26% of women have high blood pressure in England, the charity says. Meanwhile, it says there are more than five million people who are undiagnosed in England.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
