More than half of Pharmacists claim shortages in medicines have "significantly increased", while 78 per cent still expect the situation to worsen over the next 12 months.


A survey, conducted between March and April, by the Irish Pharmacy Union revealed 83 per cent borrow stock from other pharmacies to ensure continuity of care.


Pharmacists and their teams now spending over 6 hours per week managing shortages


President of the Irish Pharmacy Union, Donegal-based, Tom Murray says pharmacists should be given the authority to prescribe an alternative treatment: