17 March 2026
The House of Lords Public Services Committee recently published its report on medicines security. The report finds that the UK Government and NHS lack oversight and coordination over medicines resilience, stating that medicines shortages should be seen as a security issue and calls for clear action from Government and the NHS.
BSR submitted evidence to the inquiry and many of the Committee’s proposals closely mirror the issues BSR has been raising for several years through our policy work, evidence submissions, and direct support to members. Our evidence emphasises the impact of shortages on rheumatology patients and healthcare professionals, outlines the need for stronger national oversight and calls for a bold strategy to improve the resilience of the UK’s medicine supply chain.
A precarious picture of medicines security
The Committee’s report finds that medicines shortages are increasingly being reported by medical professionals. Recent surveys show that 73% of pharmacy team members believe medicine supply issues are putting patient health at risk. BSR’s briefing Medicine shortages in rheumatology in 2024: key concerns and the impact on patients and clinicians outlines in detail many of the shortages currently affecting the specialty and the threat this poses to patient care.
Despite this growing concern, the Committee highlights that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) could not confirm whether shortages are increasing or decreasing, underscoring the lack of visibility and strategic oversight.
The report paints a picture of a UK medicines supply chain heavily dependent on global manufacturing and geopolitical stability. The Government’s approach has resulted in low-cost medicines for the UK but has also reduced incentives for companies to invest in resilient UK supply routes. We’ve seen this play out with the ongoing shortages of triamcinolone products, which are key medicines used for intra-articular injections in children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).
The Committee also states that community pharmacies and hospitals often learn about shortages only when they are directly affected, even when the DHSC may have had earlier awareness. This issue – which we also raised in our briefing and evidence - leaves pharmacists and clinicians rushing to source and prescribe alternative medicines and to respond to anxious patients seeking advice.
Recommendations
The Committee describes a need for clear, proactive leadership from the UK Government to strengthen the resilience of medicines supply, and makes a series of recommendations to rectify this, including:
- A specific national definition of a “shortage” that accounts for local and regional variation - to inform strategy and response.
- Recognition of medicines security as a national security risk.
- Improved information-sharing with pharmacies and hospitals about availability of medicine throughout the supply chain and support for them to access medicines and support patients during shortages.
- A named senior leader with responsibility for medicines resilience.
- A published Critical Medicines List and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient list based on clinical priority and supply chain vulnerability to guide stockpiling, procurement and UK production.
- A long-term plan to strengthen resilience for medicines on that list.
Next steps
BSR welcomes the Committee’s recommendations and urges the Government and NHS England to act swiftly. Strengthening medicines resilience is essential to protecting patients, supporting clinicians, and ensuring the UK has a medicines supply chain that is fit for the future. If you are experiencing medicine shortages that are impacting your practice and care, please let us know at policy@rheumatology.org.uk.