Omagh people struggling to get prescriptions

One of Omagh’s leading pharmacists has said that ‘stock shortages and skyrocketing prices’ are leaving it ‘extremely difficult’ for community chemists to supply many local people’s prescriptions.

Liam Bradley, who owns 13 pharmacies across the North, including one adjacent Mullaghmore, told the UH that it is already impossible to obtain some medicines, while other drugs appear only weeks away from becoming unobtainable.

Speaking with UH yesterday (Wednesday), Mr Bradley said, “People are prescribed certain medicines for certain reasons, and the alternatives that we, and other pharmacists, are being forced to offer are, quite simply, not as appropriate.”

Some of the drugs which have run dry locally, or are soon expected to, are used to treat conditions such as insomnia, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and depression.

Mr Bradley said that a large part of the problem is that UK drug tariffs – which dictate the prices the Department of Health (DoH) pay local pharmacies to help cover their purchase of prescription medicines for the public – are failing to keep up with the sharply rising wholesale prices of large pharmaceutical companies.

“Drug prices are prone to fluctuation. That’s normal. We anticipate that,” said Mr Bradley.

“However, the sheer volume of medicines which are costing, not just a bit, but exponentially more than usual, is not normal. That is what is putting stress on local pharmacies at the moment,” he added.

“Some medicines have went from costing a few pounds to costing £50 or £60, and, for many products, we are paying far more than we are receiving from the DoH. It’s not sustainable.” said Mr Bradley.

“Usually,” said Mr Bradley. “These large leaps in price can be explained by a breakdown in competition.

“Occasionally, you might have a scenario where there are two main suppliers in the market; one runs out of stock, and the other hikes their prices to capitalise. That’s normal. What is happening now, however, is different. It’s on a far bigger scale.”

One drug, said Liam, which cannot be stocked at the moment is the sleeping aid, Temazepam.

“Somebody who takes Temazepam is prescribed it for a reason. Yes, we can offer alternatives, but they won’t be as appropriate as the original prescription,” said Mr Bradley.

Concluding, Mr Bradley echoed the calls made by Community Pharmacy NI earlier this week, saying, “The DoH have a look at the wholesale prices and adjust the tariffs in order to catch up, fast.

“We need decisive action from them and we need it soon.”