HRT drugs among those difficult to get hold of
HORMONE replacement therapy drugs are among those which have become difficult to source due to the pandemic, Brexit and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Health & Social Care chief pharmacist Bev Hall confirmed there were issues in supply.
‘HSC is experiencing supply chain challenges with a range of drugs – in which HRT drugs are included,’ she said.
‘There are technical challenges which the team are working with UK providers to rectify.
‘Supply is affected by a number of things including the global supply chain. This this has been impacted by Covid, Brexit and the war in Ukraine.’
HSC receives drugs through an NHS supply chain. A team of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are responsible for day-to-day supply, including shortages and discontinuations.
The HSC pharmacy team works with the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care. It reviews medicines stock levels regularly and considers alternatives where possible.
‘Community pharmacies, which are independent, have flexibility to change supply chains when situations require.’
The UK has been suffering numerous shortages with drugs, including HRT products.
A Channel 4 News report found that supply issues were much worse than last year in the UK, with medicines such as antibiotics, pain relief medication and blood thinners all affected.
Ms Hall said Guernsey faced an extra challenge.
‘Guernsey has to factor in reliance on freight schedules rather than twice-daily deliveries, which would be the norm in the UK,’ she said.
‘To counter this more stock of certain supplies is kept by the pharmacies, but this has to be balanced with an ethical responsibility not to keep supplies “just in case”.
‘Where stocks are known to be provided on an allocation basis, clinicians will liaise with pharmacies about availability before a patient commences a new treatment regime.
‘An assessment of stock is made to ensure that starting the new regime does not impact on the supply of drugs to others who have already been prescribed them so that a patient can complete their course.
‘In cases where the supply is limited, the pharmacy will support to identify alternatives, or review allocations based on clinical need.’
Ms Hall said the team was taking all possible steps to work together to ensure the continued delivery of services, although it appreciated the stress and anxiety that this disruption might bring.
A further update on the local supply of HRT is expected next week.
