Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Apr 23
Pharmacists warn UK medicine prices rise 20-30% amid Iran war
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Apr 23

Pharmacists warn UK medicine prices rise 20-30% amid Iran war

11 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Apr 23
  • Community chemists in England report paracetamol and cetirizine prices up 20-30% since February, with some pharmacies running out of aspirin and co-codamol due to supply constraints.
  • Rising petrol and air freight costs, plus shortages of petroleum derivatives from the Gulf, have driven up manufacturing and transport expenses, forcing pharmacies to pay 40-50% more for stock.
  • While NHS medicine shortages are not yet widespread, experts warn continued conflict could soon cause further price hikes or shortages, especially if the strait of Hormuz remains closed.
The Iran conflict has crippled medicine supply. How vulnerable is the UK to the next global crisis?
The UK partners with the US on supply chains, but will this prevent future medicine shortages?
As global supply chains fail, can AI and local manufacturing stop the UK from running out of medicine?
Thousands of pharmacies have closed. Is the current NHS funding model for them broken beyond repair?
Are soaring drug prices solely due to the conflict, or are other market forces at play?
First medicines, now fertilizers. Is the conflict in Iran about to trigger a global food crisis?