Medicine Supply
Sep 6, 2026
Why is your medication out of stock? Here's how UK medicine shortages actually happen, what a Serious Shortage Protocol is, and what to do if it affects you.
Medicine shortages usually come down to problems somewhere in a long, global supply chain rather than any single cause. Common contributors include manufacturing issues at a single production site (many medicines are made at only one or two factories worldwide), shortages of the raw ingredients used to make a medicine, quality or regulatory issues that pause a batch or a whole product line, and sudden spikes in demand that outpace what manufacturers had planned to produce. A shortage of one medicine can also push demand onto a similar alternative, which can then become harder to get too.
None of this reflects anything about your specific prescription or your pharmacy's ordering. It is a structural, UK-wide (and often global) issue that pharmacies deal with regularly.
When a particular medicine is in short supply nationally, the Department of Health can issue a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP). While an SSP is in effect for a specific medicine, a pharmacist can supply an agreed alternative, such as a different strength or formulation, a therapeutic alternative, or a smaller quantity, without sending you back to your GP for a new prescription each time.
An SSP doesn't remove your say in the matter: you still need to agree to the alternative being offered, and a pharmacist can only go ahead if they judge the alternative to be reasonable and appropriate for you. If you'd rather not accept the alternative, you don't have to, though it may mean waiting for your original medicine to become available again. Prescription charges generally still apply as normal, except that no charge is due if you end up receiving a smaller quantity than originally prescribed.
Talk to your pharmacist first. In many cases they can tell you straight away whether an SSP applies, whether a licensed alternative exists, or whether the issue is likely to resolve quickly.
Try to reorder in good time rather than waiting until you're down to your last few doses, which gives everyone more room to find a solution before it becomes urgent.
Avoid asking for extra supply "just in case" during a known shortage. It's an understandable instinct, but stockpiling makes a shortage worse for everyone else relying on the same medicine.
If your medicine has been discontinued altogether, or is proving genuinely difficult to source rather than just temporarily low in stock, that's a slightly different situation. Our Hard-to-Find Medicines service specialises in exactly that.
Don't stop taking a prescribed medicine without speaking to a pharmacist or your GP first, even if it's temporarily unavailable. They can advise on a safe alternative or a sensible interim plan.
Our pharmacists deal with medicine shortages regularly and can talk you through whether a Serious Shortage Protocol applies to your medication, what alternatives might be appropriate, and how to reorder in good time. If your medicine is discontinued or unusually hard to find, see our Hard-to-Find Medicines page for how our sourcing service works.
This article is general information, not medical advice, and doesn't replace an assessment by your pharmacist or GP. Whether a Serious Shortage Protocol applies to a specific medicine can change at any time; always check with your pharmacy for the current position.
