Both the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), representing approximately 6,000 pharmacies<\/a>, and the Independent Pharmacies Association, with over 5,000 members, report significant difficulties in sourcing the drug<\/a>. <\/p>\n The NPA confirmed that pharmacists<\/a> across the UK are being forced to tightly ration existing stock, prioritising patients with the most severe heart conditions<\/a> or those requiring emergency prescriptions. <\/p>\n Low-dose 75mg aspirin is vital for long-term treatment due to its antiplatelet effect, which prevents blood clots and helps avert heart attacks and strokes.<\/p>\n A doctor may prescribe aspirin for people who have had a heart attack or a stroke, a transient ischemic attack, angina, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or who have had surgery.<\/p>\n The NPA ran a snap survey of 540 UK pharmacies this week and found 86 per cent reported being unable to supply aspirin to their patients in the previous seven days.<\/p>\n The problem is acute for the 75mg dose, though all types are affected.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Aspirin can help prevent heart attacks and strokes in high-risk patients (PA)<\/p>\n Several pharmacies said they have also stopped making aspirin available for over-the-counter sales.<\/p>\n The NPA said the price of aspirin has also risen in the last two months due to the shortages, with a packet of aspirin 75mg dispersible tablets going from 18p earlier last year to \u00a33.90 this month.<\/p>\n It says that because the NHS will only reimburse pharmacies \u00a32.18 a packet, an average pharmacy will lose \u00a31.72 each time it is dispensed.<\/p>\n Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, said: \u201cWe\u2019re concerned about reports of pharmacies being unable to order in stocks of aspirin and the implications this might have for the patients they serve.<\/p>\n \u201cFor those pharmacies that can get hold of supply, costs will far exceed what they will be reimbursed by the NHS, yet more signs of a fundamentally broken pharmacy contract in desperate need of reform by the government.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said: \u201cIt is incredibly worrying to see shortages of essential medicines such as aspirin and blood pressure treatments appearing in pharmacies.<\/p>\n \u201cThese low stock levels are partly due to manufacturing delays, but also because pharmacies are simply unable to order the quantities they need.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reality is that the prices paid for many medicines by the NHS are so low that manufacturers often prioritise supplying other countries instead, leaving the UK pushed to the back of the queue.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen limited stock becomes available then the prices shoot up to levels that become unaffordable for pharmacies to order and they are left severely out of pocket.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Several pharmacies said they have stopped making aspirin available for over-the-counter sales (PA)<\/p>\n \u201cIt is vital that the government urgently reviews how medicines are reimbursed to pharmacies, otherwise these shortages will only worsen.<\/p>\n![\"Aspirin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/28165714-56aef006-0483-490e-a625-2b279b37e7e6.jpg\")
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