UK Pharmacies Could Struggle as Aspirin Shortage Intensifies

Ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have intensified concerns about the UK's ability to secure essential medical supplies.

These concerns have been building throughout the year, with aspirin sourcing proving particularly problematic in the UK.

The BBC reported in January 2025 that the drug's cost has surged by 1,000% amid a nationwide shortage, according to frontline pharmacists.

The supply chain crisis has prompted some wholesalers to increase prices to extraordinary levels, with one pharmacist reportedly paying £7.82 (US$9.85) for a single box of aspirin, a medication that usually costs just 38p (US$0.48).

Local dispensaries face mounting challenges

The shortage has affected the vast majority of local dispensaries across the country.

According to a National Pharmacy Association (NPA) survey, 86% of pharmacies cannot currently fulfil aspirin requests, with limited stocks being strictly reserved for patients with acute medical conditions or those holding emergency prescriptions.

As a versatile non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), aspirin is used for short-term pain relief, fever reduction and reducing inflammation.

It also functions as an antiplatelet agent, with low doses used long-term to prevent blood clots, heart attacks and strokes, particularly in high-risk individuals.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has acknowledged the strain but remains optimistic, stating they have "robust measures in place" to minimise the impact on patient care and manage the ongoing disruption.

Geopolitical tensions create logistics challenges

These concerns are now extending beyond aspirin to off-patent medicines more broadly.

According to Pharmacy Business, Mark Samuels, Chief Executive Officer at Medicines UK, which represents manufacturers of off-patent drugs known as generics that make up 85% of medications used by the NHS, says: "The escalating conflict in Iran, and the wider instability across the Middle East, poses a significant risk to future UK medicine supplies.

"While we are not currently seeing exceptional shortages, manufacturers are facing sharp increases in transportation costs, particularly for air freight.

Shipping - the primary route for most medicines - is also under strain due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, creating knock-on pressures across global supply chains.

"Medicine production requires long-term planning, and the current uncertainty makes it increasingly difficult for manufacturers to operate with confidence.

"Off-patent medicines, which account for 85% of NHS prescriptions, run on high efficiency and razor thin margins.

Any prolonged crisis that drives up operating costs will disproportionately affect these manufacturers and risks leading to supply shortages or increased costs for the NHS."

David Weeks, Director of Supply Chain Risk Management at the analytics group, Moody's, says: "It's the perfect storm.

"We have the conflict in the Gulf that caused the strait of Hormuz to shut down, and India is known as the pharmacy of the world.

"They produce a lot of the generic [off-patent] drugs and APIs [active pharmaceutical ingredients].

"With the geopolitical situation, it's harder and harder to get those out."

Pandemic lessons and domestic production

British supply chains experienced similar pressures during the Covid-19 pandemic as paracetamol and other essential painkillers became scarce.

This shortage was largely driven by production bottlenecks in India, a global pharmaceutical powerhouse that supplies 60% of the world's generic drugs and half of the US market.

The UK currently produces only about 25% of its medicines domestically, leaving it heavily reliant on these international manufacturers.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson told the BBC: "The vast majority of the UK's licensed medicines are in good supply and aspirin stock remains available to pharmacies from wholesalers.

"To make sure this remains the case, we work with suppliers to resolve any issues and we are investing more in the domestic medicine manufacturing industry."