US tariffs likely to pressure UK medicines supply chain

US tariffs are likely to have an impact on UK medicine supply. Medicines imported at higher cost, coupled with rising prices in Europe, could have a knock-on effect on the UK market, Community Pharmacy England has warned in a new report.

A Pressures Survey report describes medicines supply issues ‘distressing new normal’. Research shows that between May 2024 and April 2025, pharmacists made over a million reports of medicines purchased above Drug Tariff prices. Over the same period, the Department granted 1,524 price concessions, an average of 127 per month.

The results indicate medicines shortages and supply disruptions remain widespread, with mounting pressure on pharmacies as more time needs to be spent on managing medicines supply. One in four pharmacy teams reports spending more than two hours a day sourcing alternatives.

Some 95 per cent of pharmacy teams said patients are still being inconvenienced by ongoing shortages, and 73 per cent said supply issues are putting patient health at risk. 87 per cent of staff now face daily supply issues – up from 67 per cent in 2022 - and aggression from frustrated patients remains high.

The results show no improvement in medicines supply issues since the annual Pressures Survey first launched in 2022, when supply problems were often linked to factors such as Brexit, the war in Ukraine, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and wider economic instability.

The survey is based on views shared by the owners of over 4,300 pharmacy premises in England and 1,600 pharmacy team members in our recent Pressures Survey.

Research