February 4th 2026

By Ailsa Colquhoun

Lords call for mandatory pharmacy reporting of medicine stock levels

Pharmacists should be required to share more information on their medicines stock levels, peers have said in a new report.

Medicines security - a national priority calls for mandatory arrangements to be included in the next Community Pharmacy Agreement, due to take effect from April 2026.  Published today, the report highlights “serious gaps in understanding of primary care stock levels and manufacturer stock situations”.

It concludes: “DHSC has at best an incomplete picture of medicines stocks and shortages in the UK”.

Publishing the report, the Lords’ Public Services Committee welcomes medicine substitution by pharmacists and calls for improved access to relevant sources of information to inform substitution.

The committee also highlights weaknesses outside dispensing practice where patients are forced to go back to their prescriber when medication is unavailable and problems in communication between dispenser and GP, because GPs may have poor awareness of possible substitute medicines.