UK extends emergency ramipril supply cap to Oct. 30

UK health authorities have prolonged the emergency restriction on the blood‑pressure drug ramipril, keeping the one‑month dispensing limit in place until 30 October. The measure, first introduced in April to prevent stockpiling and ensure equitable access amid international manufacturing and shipping delays, remains necessary to stabilise the national supply chain.

Pharmacists across England and Scotland are urging regulators to grant broader substitution powers under Serious Shortage Protocols, allowing alternatives such as lisinopril to be dispensed without additional approval. They argue the rigid one‑month cap creates administrative bottlenecks and anxiety for patients with chronic hypertension, heart failure or diabetic kidney disease, while clinical teams stress that patients should not alter dosing or ration medication.