The health minister Maria Caulfield attempted to allay concerns in parliament about the impact of shortages on the supply of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medicines across the UK by suggesting the issue was “global” and not related to Brexit and insisting the problem will be resolved “very shortly.”

Former pharmacy minister Caulfield (pictured) was responding to criticism in the Commons from Labour and the Scottish National Party who accused the government of failing to ensure supplies reach pharmacies and patients.

Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft asked Caulfield what plans the Department of Health and Social Care has drawn up to prevent shortages occurring in future and quizzed her on how the government allowed the situation to happen in the first place.

“ADHD medications are essential to many people. And in response to my written question last month, the department outlined disruptions to supplies which are expected to resolve in early 2024,” Foxcroft said.

In response, Caulfield said: “This is a global shortage of ADHD medication, and as we set out in response to her written answer. We expect that to be resolved very shortly.”

There was also criticism of the government from SNP MP Amy Callaghan who insisted: “Brexit broke Britain and it is continuing to wreak havoc on supply chains.”

She claimed shortages of ADHD medicines will “drag on into next spring” and said 70 per cent of patients have been “forced to ration their supply” while 62 per cent said they had increasingly experienced suicidal thoughts.

Callaghan asked Caulfield what steps she was taking “to ensure supplies of these vital medications are reaching pharmacies across the UK.” Caulfield replied: “A shortage of ADHD medications is a global issue, it’s not a Brexit-related issue, and we are hoping to have some positive news over this in the coming weeks.”

Last month, the charity ADHD UK revealed Takeda, the main manufacturer of ADHD treatments, told it the nationwide shortage was expected to last until April next year.

This story was originally published by Independent Community Pharmacist.