Drug Shortage Supply UK

When the Supply Chain Fails,
We Source the Medicine.

Euro Biom is an MHRA WDA-licensed UK wholesaler specialising in shortage medicine supply. When the primary supplier is out of stock, when an SSP is active, when a hospital cannot wait, we source, document and ship, same working day response, GDP-compliant end to end.

MHRA WDA Licence No. WDA(H) 59239Shortage Supply Authorised
Submit a Shortage Enquiry View Our Credentials

⚡ Same-day response to every shortage enquiry  ·  Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00  ·  WhatsApp us

How We Respond to Shortages
Four Routes Through a Shortage.

A shortage is rarely a single-route problem. Depending on the product, the cause of the shortage and the clinical urgency, one of these four options almost always works.

Option 01
Licensed UK Stock via Network
Where the licensed product exists somewhere in the UK supply chain, we source it through our verified wholesaler and manufacturer network. Fastest and lowest-regulatory-overhead route.
Option 02
Parallel Import / EU Variant
If the UK product is unavailable but a licensed EU equivalent exists, we source via parallel import channels with appropriate MHRA documentation.
Option 03
Named Patient / Unlicensed
Where no UK or EU licensed equivalent is obtainable, we source unlicensed or overseas-licensed alternatives on a named patient basis, per the prescriber's clinical decision.
Option 04
Specials & Compounded
For discontinued strengths, paediatric preparations or bespoke formulations, we work with Specials Licence holders to manufacture the required presentation.
What a Drug Shortage Actually Means
A supply gap, not
a lost cause.

A drug shortage is a supply-demand mismatch. It can be triggered by manufacturing stoppages, API supply failures, regulatory recalls, surges in demand, distribution disruption, or the discontinuation of a commercial product. For the procurement team on the receiving end, the cause rarely matters. The medicine has to arrive, or a patient treatment is delayed.

In the UK, the Department of Health and Social Care and the MHRA monitor shortages through the Medicine Supply Notifications and issue Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) where a clinical pathway needs to be preserved. An SSP temporarily authorises pharmacists to supply a specified alternative without a new prescription. The SSP route works for community pharmacy, but hospital procurement, NGO programmes and international exporters still need a licensed wholesaler who can actually locate and ship stock.

That is what Euro Biom does. We operate under WDA(H) 59239 with a full GDP quality system, a Responsible Person accountable for product release, and a documented supplier network covering UK manufacturers, specials providers, parallel import routes and overseas-licensed alternatives. When the primary supplier says no, we find a yes.

MHRA WDA Authorised UK GDP Compliant Named Patient Capable Same-Day Response
"A drug shortage on paper is a supply statistic. On the ward it is a patient whose therapy stops. Our job is to close the gap, sourced, documented, shipped, the same week."
Who Sources Shortage Medicines from Us
Built for Buyers Who
Cannot Wait for Normal Supply.

Shortage supply is not a consumer transaction. These are the three buyer archetypes we serve, and the reasons they come to us when their primary channel has failed.

🏥
NHS & International Hospital Pharmacies
Hospital procurement leads sourcing medicines their primary wholesaler cannot supply. Oncology, antibiotics, anaesthesia, injectables, controlled drugs. Treatment cannot be delayed, a substitute must arrive.
🌍
NGOs & Ministries of Health
Humanitarian programmes and national procurement bodies across Africa and the GCC sourcing shortage medicines for vaccination drives, TB programmes, HIV supply and essential medicines lists where local stock is unavailable.
📦
Exporters & Regional Distributors
Distributors in GCC, Africa and Europe sourcing UK-origin stock when their usual channel is out. We hold the WDA and Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product capability to support overseas registration references.
Our Shortage Supply Credentials

The controls that make
shortage supply trustworthy.

Shortage sourcing often means fewer eyes on the supplier, tighter timelines, and more pressure to cut corners. We do not. Every shortage consignment runs through the same GDP controls as routine supply.

MHRA WDA with Full Scope

Euro Biom holds WDA(H) 59239, granted by the MHRA on 17 March 2026, covering procurement, supply, export, POM and GSL. Publicly verifiable on the MHRA wholesale dealer register.

WDA(H) 59239  |  MHRA Site 37434242

UK GDP Quality System

All shortage supply runs under a documented GDP quality system, qualified suppliers, traceable batch records, quarantine on receipt, and release by a named Responsible Person before any product leaves the warehouse.

Responsible Person: Mr Brian Lindsay

Verified Supplier Network

We source exclusively from MHRA-licensed manufacturers, approved specials providers, verified parallel import channels and documented named patient import routes. No grey market, no unverifiable stock.

Licensed suppliers only

Export Documentation Ready

For international shortage supply we handle Certificates of Pharmaceutical Product references, manufacturer declarations, MA number evidence and GDP statements to satisfy importing country regulators.

CPP  |  MA evidence  |  GDP letters
How a Shortage Enquiry Runs
Four Stages, Same-Day
First Response.

From the moment a shortage enquiry lands, the clock matters. Our process is built to return a sourcing answer in hours, not days.

Stage 01
01
Enquiry & Triage
We log the product, strength, quantity, destination and required delivery window. Same working day we confirm feasibility and route, licensed UK, parallel import, named patient or specials.
Stage 02
02
Sourcing & Quotation
We confirm supplier, batch availability, expiry, and freight route. A transparent quote follows, unit price, handling, freight, documentation, and realistic lead time stated upfront.
Stage 03
03
Order & Release
Order confirmed, product received at our contract warehouse, quality checked, and released by the Responsible Person. GDP documentation and batch records prepared alongside the physical consignment.
Stage 04
04
Dispatch & Delivery
Shipment routed by road for UK, by air from Heathrow for export. Consignee receives the product with full documentation and traceability. We remain on the line until delivery is confirmed.
Shortage Categories We Handle Most
The Medicine Classes
Most Often Short.

These are the therapeutic areas where UK and international procurement teams contact us most often. If your shortage is not listed, it still fits, submit an enquiry and we will confirm within hours.

💊
Oncology Shortages
Cytotoxics, targeted therapies, supportive care medicines and biologics. 133 oncology SKUs accessible through our network.
💉
Injectable Antibiotics
Piperacillin-tazobactam, meropenem, vancomycin and other IV antibiotics repeatedly affected by global supply disruption.
🧠
CNS & Psychiatry
Quetiapine, clozapine, antiepileptics, mood stabilisers, ADHD medicines. High-SSP categories we supply regularly.
🩺
Anaesthesia & Critical Care
Muscle relaxants, induction agents, sedatives, emergency reversal agents. Where an OR schedule is at risk, we move fast.
🫁
Respiratory
Inhaled corticosteroids, combination inhalers, nebuliser solutions, oxygen delivery adjuncts affected by brand-level shortages.
🧬
Biologics & Specialist Cold Chain
Monoclonal antibodies, biosimilars, clotting factors, hormonal products. Sourced and shipped under validated cold chain.
Submit a Shortage Enquiry
What to tell us
for a same-day answer.

Shortage sourcing works on detail. The more specific your enquiry, the faster we can confirm route, price and lead time. All six fields below usually give us everything we need to quote.

Submit a Shortage Enquiry →

⚡ Same-day response  ·  WhatsApp us directly

1
Product name, strength and form
Generic and brand name if known. Tablet, capsule, injection, inhaler, suspension. Strength and pack size.
2
Quantity required
Units, packs or patient-treatment volumes. Flexibility on pack size is often useful for shortage sourcing.
3
Delivery destination
UK hospital, overseas hospital group, NGO warehouse, airport-to-airport. Affects freight route and documentation.
4
Clinical urgency
Emergency (within 24-48h), urgent (within a week), programme (weeks to months). Drives routing and pricing.
5
Acceptable alternatives
Will the prescriber accept a parallel import, a different pack size, a named patient unlicensed equivalent, or a Specials preparation?
6
Documentation needed
Certificate of Analysis, batch release documents, CPP, MA evidence, import permit support. Tell us upfront so we prepare alongside.

Running Out of Stock?

Tell us the product, quantity and destination. We respond the same working day with sourcing route, price and realistic lead time. GDP documentation and batch traceability on every consignment.

Frequently Asked Questions
Shortage Supply, Explained.

Common questions from NHS hospital pharmacists, overseas procurement leads and NGO programme managers.

What is a drug shortage and who declares it?
A drug shortage is a supply-demand mismatch for a medicine. In the UK, DHSC and MHRA monitor shortages and issue Serious Shortage Protocols where a pharmacist-level substitution pathway is needed. Hospitals, NGOs and exporters source through licensed wholesalers like Euro Biom.
Can you supply SSP-listed medicines?
Yes. Where a Serious Shortage Protocol is active we can often source the originator or the SSP-approved alternative through our supplier network, with same-day feasibility and pricing feedback.
How quickly can shortage stock arrive?
Licensed UK stock typically ships within 24-72 hours. Named patient or overseas-sourced supply is usually 5-10 working days. Every quote includes a realistic lead time upfront.
Can you handle cold chain shortage medicines?
Yes. Our WDA authorisation covers cold chain handling. Vaccines, insulins and biologic shortages are shipped under validated 2-8 degC packaging with temperature logger monitoring throughout transit.
Do you supply shortage medicines internationally?
Yes. A large share of our shortage work is export to GCC, Africa and Europe. We handle CPP references, MA evidence and importer documentation alongside the physical consignment.
What makes you different from a general wholesaler?
General wholesalers hold core stock for routine demand. We focus on shortage, named patient, specials, unlicensed imports and urgent export. When primary supply fails, we are the call.