Strep A antibiotics prices, shortages hit drugstores amid UK outbreak

LONDON — UK drugstores warn of shortages of key antibiotics used to treat Streptococcus A as cases rise and child deaths reach 15.

a Group A Streptococcus SurgeDemand for amoxicillin and penicillin, the main antibiotic treatments, has increased over the past week, especially among school children.

If supplies exist, drugstores say they’re “flying off the shelves,” and some say drug dispensing is at a loss due to soaring wholesale prices.

In some cases, pharmacists say wholesale drug prices have jumped as much as 850%. These increased costs must be absorbed by the UK’s National Health Service or either. It’s usually the drugstore, not the parent, who picks up the child’s prescription for free.

At least 15 children died from severe cases of Streptococcus A in the UK this winter season, according to the UK-wide health authority. England, wales When Northern IrelandFurther deaths from . suspected infection It was reported on Saturday but has yet to be confirmed.

Most cases of Strep A are mild and often go unnoticed, but they can also lead to more serious illness and complications, such as scarlet fever. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause a disease called invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS).

These severe infections can be fatal and are believed to be responsible for the recent spate of deaths.

The UK has seen an increase in cases this year, with the UK Health Security Agency reporting 6,602 cases of scarlet fever between 12 September and 4 December. 2,538 reported during last peak 2017-2018.

Governments and wholesalers claim the country is well prepared to deal with the outbreak. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dismissed concerns of a “nationwide shortage” of antibiotics last week.

“There is currently no shortage of drugs available to treat this, and we have well-established procedures in place to ensure that it continues,” he told the House of Commons on Wednesday. .

However, a letter to the pharmacist from NHS England, i saw it on skynewsacknowledged that local drugstores may have “temporarily interrupted the supply of some relevant antibiotics due to increased demand.”

Dr. Layla Hambeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMP), which represents drugstore owners nationwide, told CNBC that the reality on the ground is becoming hopeless.

“Obviously there is not[adequate supply]because pharmacies are not getting through,” she said. “And where there is sparse supply, they are flying off the shelves.”

“This is very worrying for us, especially when parents come to the pharmacy and unfortunately don’t have it in stock,” she added.

Parents are advised to call the drug store to check prescription availability.

She said the government shouldn’t be surprised by the shortages, given similar shortages of drugs for other outbreaks such as monkeypox earlier this year.

“This just shows the incompetence of those in charge,” she said. “This is not the first time this has happened. Since the beginning of the year, I have been discussing problems with the UK pharmaceutical supply chain with local pharmacies.”

The UK Ministry of Health did not comment on the allegations of incompetence when contacted by CNBC.

A combination of factors such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, inflation, Covid-19 and Brexit have significantly disrupted the pharmaceutical supply chain this year.

This has led drugstores to spend more time and money on drug procurement.

Under the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) drug pricing system, pharmacies receive certain compensation for their drugs. There is also a discounted list of medicines for which you can pay a higher price.

despite this, Drugstores could suffer losses if wholesale prices spike.

The government’s Department of Health and Human Services has warned that while prices could fluctuate, “businesses should not use this as an opportunity to take advantage of the NHS”.

But last week, wholesale prices for liquid solutions of amoxicillin and penicillin — which offer an alternative to pills for children and are particularly in short supply — rose from about £2 to £15 to £19 in some places. AIMP Hanbeck.

London-based pharmaceutical wholesaler Sigma Pharmaceuticals Reportedly hiking The price of the company’s amoxicillin solution more than doubled to £19 on Thursday, but later told CNBC that the surge was due to an “IT glitch.”

Martin Souwer, executive director of the Healthcare Distribution Association, which represents pharmaceutical wholesalers, said the price hikes “directly reflect” the increased costs charged by manufacturers. He denied claims of supply shortages, pointing instead to “a huge surge in demand.”

“Currently, there is too much demand for products and there are not enough competitive products available from manufacturers,” says Sawer.

Drugstore owners are now urging the government to update discounted prices on amoxicillin and penicillin so that even if prices rise further, they will be reimbursed fairly.

Janet Morrison, chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, said she was negotiating a concession list with the health ministry and needed help on pricing “urgently.”

“The pharmacy team has reached its breaking point,” she said. “They are powerless against market forces working against them and urgently need government assurance that all medicines will be available and prices will not rise significantly. .”

A total of 158 drugs were registered with the NHS November discount list, compared to 135 in October. Morrison expects a “record number” of drugs to be added to the list in December, as supply constraints exacerbate shortages and further push up drug prices.

“For months, pharmacies have been paying for NHS medicines when they should be covered by the government,” says Morrison.

“This cannot continue,” she added. “If the government does not intervene soon to protect pharmacies, patients will see more problems than ever in receiving their medicine. It has to be resolved.”