Drug wholesalers selling on supplies abroad to increase profit means UK patients are lost out on necessary medicines.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society says “urgent action is needed and that patients’ lives are being put at risk”.

It says UK pharmacies looking to raise shortages of over 40 familiar drugs used to care for conditions like cancer, high blood pressure and epilepsy.

The problem seems to be caused by the weak pound which makes it more profitable to sell medicines abroad.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain says drugs manufacturers and wholesalers are restraining the materials they send individual pharmacies.

This means that when pharmacists go over their quota, they are having to spend hours negotiating for further supplies, which occasionally takes weeks to get there.

At Mount Elgon pharmacy in south London, pharmacist Raj Patel has had to deal with dozens of concerned patients. “It feels as if we’re constantly fighting a losing battle,” he said.