(Reuters) 
A continuing shortage of some essential medicines in Britain is to be investigated by members of parliament, following complaints by pharmacists that vital supplies are being lost to exports. The All-Party Pharmacy Group, said shortages in the supply chain had been occurring for two years and there was no sign of improvement. The group said the reasons for drug shortages were complex but it was concerned that past efforts to resolve the problem had failed. It is seeking written evidence by 23 December, ahead of issuing a report sometime next year.
LloydsPharmacy, a unit of Germany’s Celesio, said in November that a survey of 396 of its pharmacists around Britain found 80 per cent were unable to dispense certain items because of shortages.
Low prices relative to other European countries have fuelled exports from the country, leaving many pharmacies scrabbling for supplies, it said.
The export trade has been encouraged by a weak pound, which means Britain is now a particularly cheap place for middlemen to buy medicines and sell them on at a profit in other European markets.