The Latest Breaking News from Olivier Picard

‘75 swimming pools’ worth of wasted medicine thrown away in England every year

Wasted medicine costs the NHS at least £480 million annually

The Independent UK · Aug 8

Wasted medicine in England could fill 75 swimming pools a year, pharmacy group says

Industry body calls for greater scrutiny of patients with multiple repeat prescriptions to tackle ‘growing problem’

The Guardian - UK · Aug 7

Supply fears over life-saving blood pressure medication taken by millions of Britons

Patients will only be given one month’s supply of the drug until the end of October

The Independent UK · Jul 28

Warning issued as bookings for meningitis vaccine surge across UK after Kent outbreak

It comes after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that some cases in the Kent outbreak are meningitis B

The Independent UK · Mar 17

Warning as major shortage of painkiller used by millions could last until summer

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned the shortage could last until at least June

The Independent UK · Feb 13

UK grapples with widespread aspirin shortage as medicine added to export ban list

The UK government recently added aspirin to its export ban list to protect supplies

The Independent UK · Jan 23

Pharmacies report widespread shortages of aspirin

Long-term treatment with low-dose 75mg aspirin has an antiplatelet effect, meaning it can stop blood clots developing and help prevent heart attacks.

Evening Standard · Jan 23

Warning over Mounjaro ‘golden dose’ as users panic over shortages and soaring prices

With the price of Mounjaro to rise in September, some users are using leftover medication in syringes to create an extra dose

The Independent UK · Aug 28, 2025

Sales of Mounjaro weight loss jab to UK suspended as pharmacies hit by shortage ahead of price hike

Boots and Lloyds pharmacies among those running low after users stockpile drug ahead of price hike

The Independent UK · Aug 27, 2025

Pharmacies warn of unsustainable demand for weight loss medication

NPA chairman Olivier Picard said ‘many more people are interested in getting weight loss jabs than would actually be suitable for treatment’.

Evening Standard · Jul 27, 2025