High demand for Strep Antibiotic exceeds supply in the UK
By Helen Chen and Simone Limbu
Patients are being turned away by pharmacies because they are unable to dispense antibiotics due to a nationwide shortage. The unforeseen demand for penicillin and amoxicillin has increased as the number of Strep A cases have increased.
Shortage in antibiotics
In December, the government issued serious shortage protocol (SSPs) across the UK for antibiotics because of the high in demand.
In a statement, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said: “Demand for penicillin has risen recently as it is used to treat Strep A and scarlet fever, and the increased demand means that some pharmacists are experiencing temporary and localised supply issues and may not have the specific formulation listed on the prescription.”
Supply chain issues
Ka Mun Chow, 32, a pharmacist at Atkins Chemist on Holloway Road, said: “The raw ingredients used to manufacture the antibiotics are imported from China, and due to China’s strict Covid-related lockdowns, obtaining the pharmaceutical ingredient is difficult.”
“There is more shortage of antibiotics in liquid form than in capsule form,” said Chow. “There has been a time when I had to turn away the children and the patients who couldn’t swallow the tablets because we didn’t have any.”
Patients were advised to go to different pharmacies to get the antibiotics or to visit their GP to prescribe them alternative medicine.
According to the pharmacist, the increase in Strep A could be due to socialising with friends and family. People’s immune systems have been compromised as a result of the Covid lockdowns, and when they socialise and are exposed to the outside world, they are at high risk of contracting the disease.
Cost of high energy bills on health
Isharna Hayes, 24, a nanny said: “My friend’s baby needed liquid antibiotics after contracting a chest infection but was turned away by the pharmacist and was told to wait a couple of days.
“My friend is a single mother, and with rising energy costs, she wasn’t using central heating as much,” Hayes added. “That made the child suffer even more while they waited for the antibiotics to stock up.”
Chow advises with the current Strep A infection, we should be more cautious when socialising, and wearing masks in crowded places or when sick may not be such a bad idea.
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