Medicine shortages in Ireland have increased over the last 12 months - by over 50% - to 332 medications.
The Medicine Shortages Index was introduced a year ago, and has revealed a dramatic increase in shortages of antibiotics and over-the-counter cough and cold medicines.
The findings also show 48 per cent of Ireland's out-of-stock medicines have only one supplier - compared to the EU average of 25 per cent.
Sandra Gannon, MD of Azure Pharmaceuticals says various agencies need to come together and act now:
"There are a number of stakeholders that would need to get involved in this. Obviously the government, the regulator, which is the HPRA, the HSE in terms of the reimbursement industry as well. So there would need to be multi-stakeholder approach, not just looking at measuring how many medicines are out of stock or how we intervene in the very short term, but looking at a proper robust plan for the longer term".
