Pharmacists across the UK are raising the alarm over a critical shortage of Creon, a pancreatic enzyme treatment essential for people living with pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis, and cystic fibrosis. The ongoing supply crisis is forcing some patients to ration their medication - at times even skipping meals - just to make their prescriptions last longer.

Creon helps individuals digest food, and without it, patients struggle to maintain weight and strength, which is vital during treatments like chemotherapy. Over 61,000 people in the UK rely on this medication. The government has acknowledged that the shortage stems from Europe-wide production and supply chain issues, with limited access to raw ingredients and manufacturing delays cited as key factors.

Pharmacists say current measures to manage the shortage are failing, and the National Pharmacy Association reports a growing number of patients having to travel far or go without doses altogether. The Department of Health and Social Care has extended a serious shortage protocol to allow for substitutes, but professionals warn that alternatives are also scarce.

Health campaigners and medical charities are calling for immediate government intervention to boost supplies. They argue the prolonged lack of access to such a vital medicine is jeopardising patient wellbeing and compromising their ability to undergo life-saving treatments.