This month, Mary Phillips, Clinical Lead (pancreas) for the BDA’s Gastroenterology Specialist Group, alongside colleagues at a number of clinical and charitable organisations, has written to the Prime Minister requesting an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for Health to discuss options for alleviating the pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) shortage.
Members will be aware of the ongoing supply issues of PERT, which is now affecting more than 60,000 people across the UK. PERT is prescribed to support adequate digestion in patients with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), most commonly due to pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis.
The growth in demand alongside supply issues and Brexit have all played their part in the crisis. However, the lack of diversity in the products available, the lack of a national response from the NHS and the lack of an uptake of imported equivalents are now having a devastating impact on people’s lives.
Read the open letter to the PM here.
Guidance was developed last year by the BDA’s Gastroenterology and Cystic Fibrosis Specialist Groups, alongside the Nutrition Interest Group of the Pancreatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (NIGPS) to minimise the impact of these intermittent supply issues on symptoms. However, the situation continues and government action is needed to ensure people get the medicine they desperately need.
Mary is also working with the BDA to submit parliamentary questions asking for answers and await a response. More to follow in due course.
