Written Question·Department of Health and Social Care·UIN 116672

Drugs: Shortages

Tabled: 27 February 2026

Answered: 5 March 2026

Question

Ian Roome

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the causes of prescription medicine shortages in the UK, including reported shortages of aspirin 75mg dispersible tablets and supply disruption affecting carbamazepin

Answer

Dr Zubir Ahmed

Medicine supply chains are complex, global, and highly regulated and there are a number of reasons why supply can be disrupted, many of which are not specific to the United Kingdom and outside of Government control, including manufacturing difficulties, a...

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