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The National Pharmacy Association has warned a shortage of medicines which help people with cystic fibrosis, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer digest food is forcing patients across the UK to ration their medication, skip meals and travel more than 30 miles to get hold of supplies.

A study by the NPA of 300 pharmacies across the UK found 96 per cent faced challenges supplying Creon and 89 per cent said they had difficulties supplying other pancreatic enzyme replacement therapies (PERT).

The NPA said its study revealed “some patients were tightly rationing their medication” and eating just one meal a day while others were going without medication. Pharmacies reported that patients were “travelling long distances and contacting numerous pharmacies to attempt to find medication in stock”.

The NPA urged the Government to change legislation and allow pharmacists to make changes to prescriptions “where it is safe to do so” and reduce the delay in medicines reaching patients.

Last week, the Government extended serious shortage protocols (SSPs) for Creon until November 21, 2025. SSPs for Creon 10,000 and 25,000 capsules which have been in place since May last year have allowed pharmacists to supply a reduced quantity without sending patients back to their GP to get a new prescription.

Current arrangements for managing Creon shortages are inadequate

However, the NPA’s study found 81 per cent of pharmacies felt the “current arrangements for managing shortages of Creon are inadequate”.

“Pharmacists are still having to refer patients back to their prescriber to obtain a new prescription for an alternative PERT product, stock permitting or an unlicensed Creon product,” the NPA said.

One pharmacist told the trade body it was “the worst stock shortage they have ever had to deal with’.

NPA chair Olivier Picard said the “distressing” survey highlighted “ongoing supply problems with Creon” and its “profound effect on patients who depend on it to survive and lead a normal life”.

NPA: Government must set up taskforce and national action plan

Calling on the Government to set up a taskforce and national action plan to address shortages of Creon, he said: “It simply cannot be right that in the 21st century patients are skipping meals in order to ration their medication.

"Medicine shortages not only cause huge inconvenience but can risk serious patient safety issues, particular in the cases of PERTs including Creon.

“Medicine shortages are all too common so highly trained pharmacists should also be permitted to use their professional judgment to supply alternative medicines – where it is safe and appropriate – in the event of the prescribed version being unavailable.”

Alfie Bailey-Bearfield, head of influencing and health improvement at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said solving shortages “demands strong, national leadership” from Labour.

“It is critical they take immediate, decisive action and explore every available option to increase supply, including directly purchasing this vital medication from countries with a surplus,” he said.

“This crisis continues to put people's health on the line, and they cannot afford to wait any longer. The situation is unacceptable and it demands immediate action.”