How to Source a Medicine During a UK Supply Shortage

Medicine shortages can quickly become a procurement problem.

A product that was routinely available may suddenly be placed on allocation, move to an extended lead time or disappear from the usual wholesale channels altogether. Pharmacy procurement teams then need to establish what stock remains, what alternative routes are available and whether another source of supply can be identified.

In some circumstances, that may include an unlicensed medicine sourced from outside the UK.

The appropriate route will depend on the medicine, the nature of the shortage, the clinical requirement and your organisation's own governance procedures.

If you are currently struggling to source a medicine, Alcatia Pharma can investigate the available supply options on your behalf.

What should you do when a medicine becomes unavailable?

There is rarely a single solution to a medicine shortage.

The first step is to establish exactly what is required and how urgent the requirement is.

This normally means confirming:

• Medicine or active ingredient
• Strength
• Pharmaceutical form
• Pack size, where relevant
• Quantity required
• Required delivery date
• Whether existing stock remains locally
• Whether the requirement relates to a known UK shortage

From there, pharmacy procurement and clinical teams can determine the most appropriate response.

For NHS organisations in particular, national medicine supply guidance may identify actions such as reviewing available stock, considering clinically appropriate alternatives, using alternative presentations or strengths, or considering unlicensed supply where licensed alternatives are not appropriate.

The main options during a medicine shortage

Depending on the circumstances, procurement teams may consider several routes.

1. Continue sourcing the licensed UK product

Availability can vary between wholesalers and suppliers.

A medicine being unavailable through one usual purchasing route does not necessarily mean that no licensed UK stock remains elsewhere in the supply chain.

It may therefore be possible to identify alternative licensed stock before considering other options.

2. Review alternative strengths, presentations or pack sizes

In some shortages, another presentation of the same medicine remains available.

Whether this represents an appropriate solution is a clinical and pharmacy governance decision, but identifying exactly what alternatives are available can help teams understand their options.

3. Consider an alternative licensed medicine

National shortage guidance may recommend suitable alternatives.

Clinical decisions should always remain with the appropriate healthcare professionals, taking account of national guidance and local policies.

4. Explore mutual aid or alternative supply routes

For hospital pharmacy teams, stock may sometimes be obtained through mutual aid arrangements when normal supply routes cannot meet an urgent requirement. NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service guidance recognises mutual aid as one mechanism that can be used during national shortages, sudden increases in demand and urgent patient requirements.

5. Consider an unlicensed medicine

Where there is a specific clinical need and an appropriate licensed product cannot meet that need, an unlicensed product may sometimes be considered.

This can include a medicine that is licensed and routinely supplied in another country but is not licensed for supply in the UK.

The MHRA regulates the manufacture, import, distribution and supply of these medicines under the UK's provisions for unlicensed medicinal products, commonly referred to as Specials.

What is an unlicensed medicine?

An unlicensed medicine is a medicine supplied without a UK marketing authorisation for the particular product being supplied.

There are several types of unlicensed medicine. During a UK medicine shortage, one relevant route can be an imported unlicensed medicine.

For example, the same active ingredient, strength and pharmaceutical form may be commercially available in another regulated market even though the normal UK product is unavailable.

A specialist importer may be able to identify that stock and arrange supply through the appropriate regulatory process.

However, an imported medicine being available overseas does not automatically mean it is suitable for use in the UK.

The decision to use an unlicensed medicine must follow applicable MHRA requirements, professional guidance and the receiving organisation's own clinical and governance procedures. NHS guidance also notes that imported unlicensed medicines require local assessment as they do not undergo a central UK suitability evaluation for that particular import.

When might unlicensed supply be relevant during a shortage?

Unlicensed supply is not simply an alternative purchasing channel for a licensed product that happens to be difficult to obtain.

MHRA guidance requires a special clinical need for the unlicensed medicine.

In a shortage situation, this can become relevant where the usual licensed medicine cannot be obtained and available licensed alternatives are not appropriate for the patient's clinical requirement.

National Medicine Supply Notifications can specifically identify situations where unlicensed imports may support supply.

For example, in June 2026 a Medicine Supply Notification covering shortages of aztreonam 1g and 2g powder for solution for injection advised clinicians to consider unlicensed products where licensed alternatives were not appropriate.

Alcatia Pharma was named within that notification as one of the specialist importers that had confirmed it could source unlicensed aztreonam.

This illustrates the role specialist importers can play when conventional UK supply routes are unable to meet demand.

How does sourcing an unlicensed medicine work?

The precise process varies according to the product and source market, but from the procurement team's perspective it normally starts with a sourcing enquiry.

Rather than asking your team to search individual international markets, you provide Alcatia with the requirement.

We can then investigate potential sources and establish whether an appropriate supply option can be identified.

This may involve determining:

1. Whether licensed UK stock can be sourced.
2. Whether alternative supply channels exist.
3. Whether the required medicine is commercially available in another market.
4. What quantities may be available.
5. Expected lead times.
6. Product and pack information.
7. The appropriate regulatory route for the proposed supply.

The MHRA maintains specific requirements governing the import of unlicensed human medicines into the UK.

Any subsequent clinical approval, procurement decision and local assessment remains subject to the customer's own governance processes.

What information does Alcatia need to source a medicine?

The more precise the requirement, the faster we can investigate it.

When submitting a sourcing request, please provide:

Organisation

Tell us which hospital, pharmacy, wholesaler or healthcare organisation is making the enquiry.

Medicine or molecule

Provide the product name or active pharmaceutical ingredient.

If you have a particular manufacturer or brand requirement, include that too.

Strength

For example:

500 mg

rather than simply the product name.

Pharmaceutical form

For example:

• Tablets
• Capsules
• Oral solution
• Powder for solution for injection
• Pre-filled syringe
• Vial
• Ampoule

This is particularly important because a shortage may affect one presentation while another remains available.

Quantity required

Tell us your approximate requirement.

Availability can vary considerably depending on whether you require a small number of packs or supply for a larger patient cohort.

Required-by date

This is one of the most important pieces of information.

International sourcing may involve supplier lead times, regulatory processes and transportation, so knowing the required delivery date allows us to assess whether an option is realistically viable.

Is this related to a current shortage?

Let us know whether you are responding to an identified UK supply shortage or another sourcing problem.

If you have the relevant Medicine Supply Notification or shortage reference, you can include this in the enquiry.

Licensed or unlicensed supply

If you know what route you require, tell us.

If you do not know, select unsure.

You do not need to determine the appropriate sourcing route before contacting us. We can investigate the available supply options and provide the relevant product information for your team to assess.

Any additional requirements

This might include:

• Specific manufacturer
• Country-of-origin requirements
• Minimum shelf life
• Pack size
• Language requirements
• Temperature requirements
• Previous product supplied
• Existing product details

Do not include identifiable patient information in a general sourcing enquiry.

What happens after you submit a sourcing request?

Once Alcatia receives your requirement, our team can begin investigating the available supply routes.

Where we identify a potential source, we can provide the information needed for your procurement team to assess the option.

Depending on the medicine, this may include availability, quantity, manufacturer, source market, pack information, shelf life, pricing and indicative lead time.

For difficult-to-source medicines, availability can change rapidly. Providing a clear requirement and realistic required-by date helps us determine which options are worth pursuing.

How quickly can a medicine be sourced?

There is no universal lead time.

It depends on factors including:

• Where stock is located
• Whether the medicine is licensed in the UK
• Quantity required
• Supplier availability
• Regulatory requirements
• Transport conditions
• Customs and import requirements
• Required documentation
• Whether the medicine requires temperature-controlled transportation

Some enquiries can be resolved through existing supply channels. Others require international sourcing and take longer.

If the requirement is urgent, make this clear when submitting your request.

Do I need to know whether I need an unlicensed medicine?

No.

Your procurement team may know that the normal product is unavailable without yet knowing what alternative supply route is possible.

That is enough to start an enquiry.

Tell us what medicine you need, how much you need and when you need it.

We can investigate the potential sourcing options from there.

Can Alcatia source any medicine?

Not necessarily.

Availability depends on the product, the international market, regulatory requirements and whether an appropriate source can be identified.

For that reason, a sourcing enquiry should not be treated as confirmation that a product is available.

What we can do is investigate the requirement and determine whether we can identify a viable source.

What if the medicine is not on a published shortage list?

You can still submit an enquiry.

Supply difficulties do not always begin with a national shortage notification. Procurement teams may encounter local availability problems, wholesaler allocations, manufacturer delays or requirements for medicines that are not routinely marketed in the UK.

If your usual supply route cannot meet the requirement, send us the details and we can determine whether we may be able to help.

Need help sourcing a medicine?

If your usual supply route has failed, Alcatia Pharma can investigate the available options.

Tell us:

What medicine you need.
What strength and form you require.
How much you need.
When you need it.

Our sourcing team can take it from there.

Having difficulty sourcing something?

Provide the details of your requirement and our team will investigate the available supply options.

This article is intended to provide general information for healthcare procurement and supply professionals. It does not constitute clinical, prescribing or regulatory advice. Decisions regarding the prescribing, procurement and use of unlicensed medicines should be made by appropriately authorised professionals in accordance with current MHRA guidance, professional standards and applicable local governance procedures.