"Phenomenal pressure" on pharmacists facing a worsening shortage of hundreds of medicines

The President of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has reportedly said there is a shortage of hundreds of medicines in Ireland, including those needed to treat common medical conditions such Parkinson's, diabetes, blood pressure and ADHD.

The union's annual conference in Athlone on Saturday heard from IPU President Tom Murray that this shortage is placing "phenomenal pressure" on pharmacists nationwide and many are facing burnout. Murray also described the shortage as having an "unfair" impact on patients.

He said some pharmacists can spend up to nine hours per week trying to resolve supply issues, leading to frustration among members who are chasing "medicine shortages instead of spending that time caring for patients".

The IPU reiterated its call for the Minister for Health to appoint a Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO) within his department. This call was overwhelmingly supported at the Association’s AGM, where a motion on the subject was debated and unanimously approved.

Liam Butler, Vice-President of the IPU’s Pharmacy Contractors Committee emphasised the crucial role of community pharmacists in providing local healthcare.

“The appointment of a CPO would ensure that the pharmaceutical care of our population and medicine supply is consistently addressed at the most senior levels of the health system. It would also facilitate the development of a strategic vision for community-based pharmacy care, ultimately enhancing patient services.”

The IPU has warned that most pharmacists fear medicine shortages will become a growing concern over the coming year. Some 84% of pharmacists who were surveyed by the IPU say they expect this problem to get worse over the next 12 months.

The union also revealed that every pharmacy in Ireland has been challenged by medicine shortages in the past four months. Pharmacists have warned that medicine shortages can have a serious impact on patients and their families.