Pharmacies Rated ‘Number One Most Essential Service’

A new survey has found that pharmacies are rated the number one most important service, amid warnings of a shortage of medical supplies. The Grocer reports that there are fears that cold and flu treatments and painkillers could be running low in stocks this winter, after ongoing supply chain issues.

The disruption in supply of essential medicines has hit smaller convenience stores the hardest, as they are not able to hold large reserves of stock. Trade bodies are calling on suppliers to make smaller local stores their priority this winter, amid fears that patients will not be able to access medicines such as Calpol and Solpadeine Plus.

A Local Barometer survey by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) found that pharmacies were rated by respondents as the most essential service. It was also found that in a post-pandemic situation, patients were not keen to travel far when they were displaying cold or flu-like symptoms. 

ACS CEO James Lowman said: “Convenience stores are an important source of a range of products locally, including supplies of over-the-counter medicines, and are increasingly becoming a place where people can collect prescriptions.”

He added: “Pharmacies were rated as the number one most essential service in our Community Barometer this year, but in rural areas especially there is often an issue with local access so it’s of huge value to a community when convenience stores can provide those services to customers.”

Suppliers are blaming the current shortages on logistical problems in the supply chain, which is still experiencing a knock-on effect from pandemic shutdowns, extra Brexit legislation, and delays which were caused by the summer heatwave. There is also an ongoing shortage of lorry drivers throughout the UK and Europe. 

A Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman said: “Our priority is to ensure that our customers are provided with regular stock and that our products are readily available to consumers when they need them the most.”

She added: “We have been working hard to manage stock levels across all customers, channels and regions following industry-wide logistics challenges and unusually high demand for Calpol over the summer period, including by opening new production lines, running our plant at maximum capacity and building up high levels of safety stock.”

“We take our responsibility to parents seriously and as we enter cough and cold season, when demand is high, we will continue to work with our retail partners to help balance supply and ensure good availability across the Calpol range.”

According to the Pharmaceutical Journal, over half of pharmacists reported in July that low stocks were putting patients at risk, while soaring costs were making it more challenging to source competitively priced products. To help improve matters, industry leaders are calling for a range of measures to be put in place.

These include lower taxes for medical products, and a priority to be given to medical imports. Over two-thirds of the UK’s medicine supplies are shipped from India and Continental Europe, so it is particularly prone to supply chain disruption. There are also calls for quicker market authorisations, and more action to tackle supply chain blockages.