Some prescription drugs are in short supply (Image: georgeclerk via Getty Images)
A pharmacist has warned that the current medicines shortage is the “worst I’ve ever known” as supply problems affect dozens of commonly prescribed drugs. Medications used to treat a range of conditions, from high blood pressure to diabetes, are being hit, with some patients reportedly unable to obtain their regular prescriptions.
Graham Jones, owner of Shrivenham Pharmacy in Oxfordshire, has cautioned that even medicines such as aspirin are becoming increasingly difficult to source. Other widely used medications affected include apixaban, ramipril, metformin and pregabalin tablets.
He said: “A lot of very commonly used medications have gone into short supply in a very short period of time.” The pharmacist attributed the crisis to soaring global prices and insufficient government funding to keep pace with rising costs, according to the BBC.
A government spokesperson stated it had “established processes to respond to sudden market price increases”, adding that it would “help ensure pharmacies can continue to obtain medicines for patients”.
Patient Gillian-Ann Wordsworth, 84, has been left struggling after her usual supply of apixaban — which she relies upon to prevent and treat blood clots related to her heart condition — ran out of stock, leaving her without any medication to take. She has since been prescribed an alternative, reports Chronicle Live.
She told the BBC: “They can’t get the Apixaban, so I was without medication all day Saturday. It’s all a bit worrying because after all, it is the heart at the end of the day.” The NHS reimburses pharmacies a fixed rate for the medicines they dispense, which those pharmacies must then purchase for that amount or less. When the actual cost exceeds the fixed NHS reimbursement rate, the medication is added to a government “price concessions list”.
In April, this reached a record high of 210 named drugs. So far this month, as of May 20, 2026, it has 188 named medications on it.
Pharmacies will typically receive the revised price for listed medications, however the sudden spike in costs can still pose significant difficulties. Mr Jones said this happens regularly giving the example of apixaban which they are currently getting paid around £3 when they were having to pay £6 to buy it in.
There are 188 medications currently on the list (Image: Getty)
He explained that this made it increasingly difficult for pharmacies to purchase adequate stock, which in turn meant that some patients could face shortages of their prescribed medication.
A spokesperson at the Department of Health and Social Care told the BBC: “The vast majority of licensed medicines are in good supply and we are working hard to keep it that way. We have established processes to respond to sudden market price increases of medicines.
“This includes adjusting reimbursement prices based on current market conditions, which helps ensure that pharmacies can continue to obtain medicines for their patients.”
Community Pharmacy England stated: “When community pharmacies cannot source a drug at or below the reimbursement price as set out in the Drug Tariff, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) can introduce a price concession at the request of Community Pharmacy England.”
The organisation went on to say: “For any drugs granted price concessions, contractors are automatically reimbursed at the new prices for that month. It set out the full list of 188 medications currently on the list. These are:
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
