Once again, the whole can of wriggling drug shortages has been opened for scrutiny. This time it is courtesy of a survey carried out by the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers which, it must be said, is not without an interest in the issue (p125).Lest it be forgot, the problems started after Pfizer decided to opt for a single wholesaler in order, it argued, to protect the supply chain from counterfeits. It was more than a coincidence that other manufacturers followed suit, particularly when they all realised the (un)intended consequences of rigorous control of supplies: that short-line wholesalers would find it harder to obtain stock for export in order to benefit from the weak pound and that manufacturers would be able to benefit from all this extra exchange rate profit.
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