Seriously ill Scots are being forced to travel miles to get vital medicines amid drug shortages across the country

Scots with serious health conditions face severe drug shortages – with some forced to travel for miles to get vital drugs.

Medicines for those with cystic fibrosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and diabetes are all currently affected by supply problems.

The situation has also affected stocks of epilepsy drugs and hormone replacement therapy treatments in recent months.

Now The Mail on Sunday has launched a campaign to end the nightmare of drug shortages. We are calling on the UK and Scottish governments to implement four changes that would help solve the crisis.

They are that pharmacists should be given more power to make substitutions when drugs are out of stock; that manufacturers should be forced to give advance warning of known shortages or face fines; a public database should be created to allow patients to check which pharmacies have their medicines in stock; and that all NHS patients should be allowed to use hospital pharmacies to obtain important medicines.

Laura Wilson, director of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society for Scotland, said: “Medication shortages are creating a lot of stress for patients, families and pharmacy teams across Scotland, just like the rest of the UK.

“Delays in getting medicines mean pharmacists spend hours tracking supplies when more time and expertise could be spent directly with patients.”

People with cystic fibrosis must take the vital supplement Creon with every meal or risk gut pain, dramatic weight loss, infections and serious illness.

Without it, they cannot absorb any nutrients from their food.

However, there is currently a Severe Shortage Protocol (SSP) in place for Creon capsules, which has left some people struggling to get supplies. SSPs alert pharmacies and other providers when shortages are ‘acute’ and may need to provide alternatives.

David Ramsden, chief executive of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, said: “These medicines are essential as they help the body absorb critical fats, oils and medicines and control painful and uncomfortable bowel symptoms.

“We know some people are spending hours calling or traveling to multiple pharmacies or cutting back on food intake.

We need manufacturers and government to urgently work together to take all action to address shortages.’

Reasons for supply problems, which affect the whole of the UK, include manufacturing or distribution problems and increased demand for medicines.

Some commentators also blame wider factors including Brexit, the conflict in Ukraine and the Covid pandemic.

Both of Sabrina Duncan’s sons have ADHD. Her youngest, Blake, 9, struggles to concentrate without his medication, lisdexamfetamine, as does her oldest, Corey, 14, without Xaggit.

Mrs Duncan, 36, from Methil, Fife, said: “I had problems getting my youngest’s medication for months. He fought so hard for it.

However, Corey has not taken any medication for a year and a half. It has had a huge impact.’

Earlier this week, the National Pharmaceutical Association (NPA) revealed that drug shortage warnings have tripled in the past two years.

The NPA found that the UK Government sent 50 SSPs between 2022 and 2024, compared to just 15 between 2019 and 2021.

A Scottish Government spokesman said it is engaging with the UK Government on the matter.

The spokesman added: “The NHS has robust systems in place to manage drug shortages when they occur.

Anyone affected by this should talk to their doctor or pharmacist.’

A spokesman for the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care said: “We are working to resolve the remaining issues as quickly as possible.”