Britannia Rules the Drug Shortages

Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves! Oh really? That certainly isn't the way it sounds in terms of drug shortages.

Last week, our great and glorious leader, casually dismissed the drug shortage problems that have plagued Britain over the last twelve months. Health ministers pledged to fix these problems over the past year, and yet pharmacists are still being forced to explain to patients medicines are out of stock and not expected before the end of the week.

Now I find out President Obama has signed an executive order forcing the Food and Drug Administration to solve the drug shortages across the pond. One article suggested the order would make it a legal requirement for drug companies to inform the FDA six months in advance about potential shortages, giving them adequate time to prepare. The FDA have also said they are going to double the resources that are dealing with drug shortages.

And what do we get? A limp response tailed by some patriotic statement that smelled suspiciously bovine (see here for a direct qoute). I admire people who are proud of their country, but being in a position of power as part of a union means you treat everyone equally, regardless of their birth place. The current situation across the UK is a disaster. People in Wales, Scotland and England all get different deals when it comes to healthcare - yet we all pay tax, we all get one vote and ultimately we all get forgotten about whilst 'hon. gentleman' make decisions to meet their own ends.

I've never been ashamed of being British, being a pharmacist or voting and with one casual remark there is a definite possibility I'll be boarding a plane out of here.