Many pharmacies report shortages and warn that the problem is getting worse
London, Thanasis Gavos
Increased demand for common, over-the-counter medicines to relieve flu and cold symptoms is being reported by many pharmacists in the UK.
As a result, many pharmacies report shortages of such drugs and warn that the problem is becoming more and more acute.
The head of the Association of Independent Pharmacies, Dr Leila Hanbeck, described the situation as a “nightmare” on a large scale, adding that members of the association were sending her pictures of empty shelves in their pharmacies.
“Pharmacists can’t find some of the most common cold and flu medications,” Dr. Hanbeck said.
The explanation given for the shortages of these medicines is that due to the great pressure on the health system there are long delays in appointments with neighborhood GPs and hospital doctors. Therefore, patients are resorting to common drugs with greater frequency.
The increased strain on the NHS system is largely attributed to the flu outbreak. At the end of last week, 3,746 patients were hospitalized with the flu, a number more than twice as many as during the same period last year.
It is noted that in the last two months, many British pharmacists have reported difficulty in finding antibiotic drugs used to treat scarlet fever, the most common infection caused by the streptococcus A bacterium.
In total, since September, more than 33,000 cases of scarlet fever have been recorded in the country, while 25 minors have died from a more serious infection caused by the bacterium.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
