Source: DHSC/Gov.uk 11.8.25
The UK is not alone in facing challenges with medicines shortages, with many other nations
experiencing disruption. In the UK, there is no single, reliable measure that can comprehensively
reflect an increase or decrease in the frequency of reported supply issues over the past 3 years.
However, we have seen supply issues increase in complexity in recent years. The most common
cause, as reported by suppliers, is manufacturing disruption, often linked to raw material availability.
Other causes reported include demand surges, and transport and logistical issues (see section 2:
‘Trends of UK medicines supply issues’).
To that end, increasing resilience of UK medicines supply chains remains a priority for the government.
This spans activity within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England but also
areas of trade, international co-operation and industrial strategy. Robust supply chains are an important
underpinning of the government’s growth and health missions.
In this section, we outline some of the ways we are enhancing our processes to manage acute disruption
and strengthen supply chain resilience. These include measures around:
- earlier identification of potential disruption
- enhanced reliability and timeliness of supply
- improved communication and guidance
- stronger international partnerships
These do not claim to entirely fully mitigate risks or guarantee a reduction in disruption (which is subject
to global factors) but set out tangible actions that will help us protect patients. This is part of an ongoing
priority to continually learn and seek to improve the way we work with our partners to respond to challenges
that emerge and achieve a more resilient, sustainable medicines supply chain.
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