Two essential prescription medications—used by patients with diabetes and Parkinson’s disease—are becoming nearly impossible to find in England, as the nation grapples with unprecedented NHS drug shortages.
The supply crisis has intensified significantly, with factors such as ongoing geopolitical tensions in Iran exacerbating the problem. One of the affected drugs, Half Sinemet CR, a key medication for managing Parkinson’s symptoms, has now been officially listed as in shortage across the country.
Similarly, Trurapi insulin, vital for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes management, is experiencing supply constraints, leaving pharmacies struggling to provide patients with this life-sustaining treatment.
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Dr Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of the Independent Pharmacies Association, highlighted the growing concern: “Pharmacies nationwide are encountering anxious and frustrated patients who cannot access the critical medications they depend on.”
She emphasized that securing the Parkinson’s drug has become “effectively impossible,” forcing pharmacy teams into spending hours sourcing scarce stocks, calming distressed patients, and juggling shortages they had no role in causing.
“This situation places immense pressure on pharmacy staff and threatens the health of patients who rely on steady medication regimens—particularly those with diabetes, where treatment interruptions can lead to serious complications,” Dr Hannbeck warned.
She called on the government to acknowledge the severity of the medicine shortages and take swift action to reinforce supply chains and support pharmacies, which serve as the NHS’s frontline healthcare providers.
“The silence from ministers is not only disappointing; it amounts to a dereliction of duty that endangers patient wellbeing,” she added.
In response, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson assured that most licensed medicines in the UK remain in stable supply. They confirmed ongoing collaboration with industry partners to safeguard medicine availability and noted robust contingency plans, including buffer stock maintenance and sourcing alternative products where necessary, are in place to mitigate disruption to health services.