Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 August 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there is consistent access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication across all NHS boards.
The Scottish Government is aware that supplies of some attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicines continue to be intermittent. The supply of medicines, including those for the treatment of ADHD, and the associated legislation are a reserved matter for the UK Government, and we continue to engage with them on these supply issues.
The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO) for Scotland is a member of the UK-wide Medicines Shortage Response Group (MSRG). The MSRG has been set up to identify and co-ordinate responses to medicines shortages across the UK and provides advice to clinicians on alternative therapeutic options as appropriate. Prescribers and pharmacists have access to a medicines supply tracking tool which provides advice on each shortage, including alternative treatment options.
The NHS in Scotland has robust processes in place to manage supply issues when they do arise and normally there are alternative products which can be prescribed and dispensed. Scottish Government officials are working closely with all Health Boards and other stakeholders to help manage the supply disruptions with ADHD medicines and provide support when needed.
The CPO held a roundtable meeting with key stakeholders in Scotland in November 2024 to better understand the impact of ADHD medicine shortages locally and to determine if there is any further action that can be taken to strengthen our response. Following the meeting the CPO wrote to Health Boards to provide further background on medicines shortages more generally, how they are managed, and to clarify the current position on ADHD prescribing.