Medicine shortages in community pharmacy

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Pharmacy guide

Dealing with medicine shortages in community pharmacy can be time-consuming and frustrating. So, here’s a guide to help you and your team that includes a flowchart, top tips and key principles.

Want to know about dealing with shortages in secondary care? See our best practice standards for this in England and Scotland.

You may also find our policies on shortages and medicines shortages: solutions for empty shelves.

^{First Published: 10 March 2020

Updated: 17 January 2024}

Sections on this page

Principles
Assessing the situation
Flowchart
Top tips on assessing the situation
Suggesting suitable alternatives to the prescriber
Top tips for suggesting suitable alternatives to the prescriber
Contacting the prescriber and practice
Top tips for contacting the prescriber and practice
Further information

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