Kelangkaan obat kini disebut sebagai masalah paling berat yang pernah dialami apotek dan dokter umum, dan berdampak langsung pada keselamatan pasien. Data terbaru menunjukkan sejumlah perawatan penting mengalami periode kekurangan terlama dalam catatan NHS. Situasi itu terutama terlihat pada protokol Serious Shortage Protocols (SSP) untuk obat HRT dan Creon yang sudah memecahkan rekor sebelumnya. Fokus pada kelangkaan obat menjadi perhatian utama bagi tenaga kesehatan dan organisasi pasien.
SSP untuk Creon dan HRT mencatat periode terpanjang
Beberapa obat penting masuk ke dalam daftar SSP selama berbulan-bulan. Creon, obat yang membantu pasien kanker pankreas dan cystic fibrosis mencerna makanan, telah tercatat dalam SSP sejak Mei 2024 dan diperpanjang oleh NHS pada April hingga 10 Juli 2026 — artinya protokol itu berjalan lebih dari dua tahun, sebuah rekor baru. Sementara itu, Estradot, salah satu obat HRT yang umum, sudah masuk SSP sejak Desember 2024 dan juga diperpanjang hingga 10 Juli. Akibatnya, apotek melaporkan pasien harus menghemat obat atau bahkan melewatkan makan karena tidak mendapatkan pasokan yang diperlukan. Kelangkaan obat ini berdampak pada kualitas perawatan pasien, terutama mereka yang bergantung pada terapi berkelanjutan.
Beban kerja apotek dan dokter meningkat
Apotek dan dokter umum menghadapi lonjakan pekerjaan terkait manajemen kekurangan obat. Survei dari asosiasi profesi menyebutkan dampak operasional yang signifikan: – 98 persen apotek menemui pasien yang berkeliling ke beberapa apotek dalam satu hari untuk mencari resep dalam setahun terakhir.
– 96 persen apotek menilai situasi ini menimbulkan risiko serius terhadap keselamatan pasien.
– 83 persen tim apotek mengalami kemarahan atau penyalahgunaan dari pasien karena obat yang diresepkan tidak tersedia.
– 89 persen apotek gagal menyalurkan setidaknya satu jenis obat setiap hari tahun lalu akibat masalah pasokan. Sumber daya staf banyak tersita untuk mencari stok dan berkoordinasi dengan tim GP, sehingga waktu untuk layanan klinis berkurang. Beberapa apoteker menyatakan pengalaman ini merupakan yang terburuk dalam puluhan tahun praktik mereka.
Seruan pembentukan task force dan perubahan aturan
Pemimpin sektor farmasi menyerukan langkah cepat pemerintah untuk menangani masalah kompleks ini. Mereka meminta pembentukan task force darurat yang melibatkan produsen, grosir, dan klinisi, serta perubahan undang-undang yang dianggap usang dan menghambat respons cepat di apotek. Berikut kutipan dari pimpinan asosiasi yang menjadi perhatian utama di konferensi: “This data confirms what pharmacists and GPs have been experiencing for many months; medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients. “These shortages are some of most severe the UK has experienced. “Our medicines market has never been so volatile, with patients and primary care colleagues at the sharp end of events outside of their control. “It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success. Although medicine shortages are frustrating and worrying, we are clear that in some instances they pose a serious risk to patient safety. “Pharmacies spend significant time hunting stock and liaising with GP teams when they should be getting on with caring for their patients. “We’re urging the government to convene an emergency taskforce to bring together all parts of the supply chain to tackle this issue. “As well as this, the government should amend legislation that prevents pharmacies from making simple substitutions to a prescription, where are a safe alternative is in stock. “We hope this conference is a chance to bring together pharmacies and GPs to share ways we can work together to support our patients through a growing number of shortages. “Improving dialogue and information sharing ahead of time between GP surgeries and pharmacies can help mitigate some of the impact of disruption to supply chains.” Presiden kolegium dokter umum juga menekankan pentingnya komunikasi cepat apotek dan praktik GP serta dukungan bagi perubahan terbatas pada resep: “Medicine shortages can be frustrating for patients, GPs and pharmacists alike, especially when patients have to endure lots of back and forth to acquire a suitable alternative. At a time when GPs and pharmacists are working under significant pressures, medicine shortages only add to this. “With appropriate safeguards in place, the College is supportive of pharmacists being able to make limited changes to prescriptions when a medicine is unavailable and a safe, clinically appropriate alternative is available within agreed prescribing guidance. We would also support systems that enable timely communication between pharmacists and GP practices when shortages arise, without creating unnecessary administrative burden. “The most important thing is that patients are able to access the medication they need safely and without delay. More widely, it’s essential that when shortages occur, the underlying causes are quickly identified and resolved.”
Dampak pada pasien dengan kondisi rentan
Organisasi pasien memperingatkan efek besar pada kelompok tertentu. Kepala kebijakan Cystic Fibrosis Trust menyatakan: “Secure access to medicines is critical for everyone with cystic fibrosis. As the recent challenges with PERT have shown, the impact of shortages is huge, affecting physical and mental health. We will continue to work with the Government to make sure a long-term resolution to shortages is achieved and everyone with CF is able to access the medicines they need.” Perwakilan pasien kanker pankreas menyoroti pentingnya PERT: “Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT) is vital for people with pancreatic cancer and is essential for people to digest food, maintain a healthy weight, and live well. Difficulties obtaining an adequate supply of PERT can cause people significant distress and anxiety, as not having enough can have an impact on symptom control, and their ability to remain well enough to tolerate treatment. “Although the supply of Creon and other brands of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT) has generally improved over the last year, we know some people who rely on this medication are still facing challenges in securing the PERT they need, such as having to visit multiple pharmacies. We are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the government and manufacturers are continuing with work to establish a more robust supply of this vital medication.” Sementara itu, kelompok yang mendukung pasien epilepsi memperingatkan risiko serius jika dosis terlewat: “We understand how worrying it can be for patients to run low on essential medication. Epilepsy is a cliff-edge condition, which means that missing even a single dose can have life-threatening consequences. “We are calling on the UK Government to ensure their essential medicine supply chains are robust and water-tight so that no one is left vulnerable to global events. And especially to protect people with cliff-edge conditions. At times of national pressure, we must always look first to protect the most vulnerable.” Konferensi yang mempertemukan ribuan GP dan apoteker di Birmingham diharapkan menjadi forum untuk berbagi strategi praktis, memperbaiki komunikasi antarlembaga, dan mendesak tindakan lebih cepat dari seluruh rantai pasokan agar pasien tidak lagi berada pada posisi rentan akibat kelangkaan obat.
