Pharmacists warn that the “worst” examples of medical shortages are affecting cancer patients.

Creon is a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) that helps digestion, pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis. It is believed that over 61,000 patients in the UK need the drug.

According to the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), some patients are said to have “skipped meals” to dosage the medication due to lack of medication.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Social Care said there was “a European-wide supply problem” and that it “works closely with the industry and the NHS” to mitigate the impact on patients.

Without medication, patients lose weight and strength, meaning they can cope with treatments like chemotherapy.

Some experts predict that the shortage will continue until next year.

The Ministry of Health and Social Care has expanded Creon's severe shortage agreement, which has been ongoing for a year.

This shows concerns about drug shortages and allows pharmacists to provide alternatives to patients - although they believe other drugs are in short supply.

A spokesman for the department said that “the supply problem in Europe” was caused by manufacturing supply restrictions.

The National Pharmacy Association said more than three-quarters of members in a recent survey believed that the current arrangements for management shortages were insufficient.

According to the NPA, some people reported that patients were skipping meals and traveling long distances to hold medication.

Some say it is the "most serious stock shortage" they have to deal with ever.

BBC News highlighted the issue in February after a woman got in touch, and her husband (with pancreatic cancer) could not have digested food without Creon.

That month, leading pancreatic clinicians and charities wrote to the Prime Minister saying that the lack of Perth could have a devastating impact on people’s lives”.

They called for a national strategy to address the shortage.

Alice, from Birmingham, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2023 and initially received 15 boxes of Creon capsules per month to help her tolerate chemotherapy.

She can only get six or seven now and has to skip snacks.

The 64-year-old said the shortage had a profound impact on her mental health.

"I'm trying to balance every day: what should I eat, I should have a heartier meal, I should take supplements, which creates additional stress and worry while I try to put my life together again after the diagnosis," she told the BBC.

Alfie Bailey-Bearfield of Pancreatic Cancer in the UK said the charity has been paying more than a year of attention to the government and suppliers, and it is crucial that officials intervene in trying to boost supply.

"Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking pert tablets every time they eat, just to digest food and absorb nutrients - most of us take it for granted."

"They still take desperate measures, which puts their health, wellness and due treatment at risk, which is completely unacceptable," he added.

Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of the Independent Pharmacy Association, said her members have difficulty getting supplies from wholesalers.

“The Creon shortage has been going on for a long time and officials don’t seem to have made effective attempts to make the process easier for pharmacies and patients and have developed strong plans to prioritize the availability of the product,” she said.

“Instead, they continue to extend the current process.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Social Care said it knows the drug supply issues that can be “how frustrating and distressing” to patients and clinicians who care for them.

They added: "The European-wide Creon supply problem is due to limited availability of raw materials and manufacturing capacity limitations.

“We are working closely with the industry and the NHS to mitigate the impact on patients and resolve the issue as soon as possible.”