THE British National Health Service is facing "considerable challenges" in supplying enough aseptically prepared injectable medicines, according to a briefing document from NHS England's Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS).
The recently published document revealed the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had taken regulatory actions against some commercial aseptic compounders and limited their aseptic compounding activity, the Pharmaceutical Journal reports
This has created downward pressures on aseptic suppliers' ability to accept new business, causing extended supply lead times in some cases.
Chief pharmacists in each region are being held responsible for ensuring adequate contingency plans are in place, such as prioritising capacity for short shelf-life items, minimising the use of bespoke products, and ensuring effective communication between medical, pharmacy and nursing staff to ensure that the wider healthcare team is aware that the "aseptic compounding capacity available to the NHS is a finite resource".
The MHRA confirmed that in order to comply with good manufacturing practice some suppliers had reduced their manufacturing output.
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