Patients have been advised “not to worry” about medicine supply concerns despite potential links to the conflict in Iran.
While reassurances are offered, pharmacy bodies are noting early warning signs.
The Independent Pharmacies Association warned the UK faces a “perfect storm of factors exacerbating medicine shortages.”
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) adds that pharmacists are seeing “evidence of escalating price rises” for medicines, a potential early warning for supply constraints.
Yet, the NPA stressed the UK is “yet to see” any shortages linked to the conflict, urging patients not to be concerned.
Chief executive Dr Leyla Hannbeck said: “The UK pharmacy sector depends heavily on imports, particularly from India and China, and ongoing pressures, from rising energy costs to constrained raw ingredients from the Middle East conflict, are already disrupting supply and risk worsening shortages without decisive action.”
Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association said: “The medicine supply chain is complex and fragile and global trends and events in the Middle East have the potential to cause disruption, as it does with other products.
“We have already seen evidence in recent weeks of escalating price rises for medicines for pharmacies in the UK, as the cost of ingredients goes up, and this can be an early sign of supply pressures.
“Medicine supply issues vary from month to month, and pharmacies do all they can to ensure patients get the medicines they need.
“The Government must support them to meet these pressures if they increase.
“We’ve yet to see shortages in the UK directly from this conflict.
“While there is a risk of disruption, particularly if this conflict goes on for a prolonged period, it is extremely hard to predict.
“We advise patients not to worry but to take the advice of their local pharmacy which will help them plan ahead and get prescriptions in good time.
“The Government should do all they can to mitigate against this and maintain supplies of medicines into the UK through alternative global supply routes.”
A Government spokesperson said: “There are currently no reported medicine shortages as a result of conflict in the Middle East.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely for any impacts on the medical supply chain.
“The department actively monitors emerging threats to supply resilience and has established processes in place to manage disruption across the health and social care sector.”
