A watchdog has opened an investigation into the sharp rise in antibiotic prices after a rise in the number of children falling ill with strep A.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Wednesday it had launched an investigation and was gathering evidence after prices soared over the past fortnight.
Drug companies have been accused of price gouging, with some pharmacists saying they are being charged up to £19 for a box of medicine that normally costs around £2.
Pharmacies say they are losing thousands of pounds a week because they can recoup only a fraction of what NHS drugs actually cost.
“We are working to establish the facts of what is currently happening in the market and welcome new information as part of our work,” the CMA said in a statement. “We are prepared to take action if there are indications of anti-competitive behavior that breaks the law.
“People have real concerns about the price of antibiotics used to treat strep A and we want companies to be clear about their obligations under the law. There is no doubt that it is illegal for a dominant company to charge excessive prices or that any company colludes to raise prices.”
Group A strep bacteria can cause many different infections, ranging from mild to life-threatening. Although the vast majority of infections are mild, sometimes the bacteria cause a life-threatening illness called invasive group A streptococcal disease.
At least 16 children across the UK have died from invasive strep A infection and there has been a huge jump in cases of scarlet fever.
The UK’s Health Safety Agency has said there is no evidence a new strain is circulating and that the rise in cases is likely due to large amounts of the bacteria circulating and increased social mixing.
As well as the sudden price hikes, pharmacies are also reporting a struggle to get antibiotics, with parents forced to go from pharmacy to pharmacy trying to find medicine for sick children.
The Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies has said the problem is now getting worse and has urged the government to take action.
Steve Barclay, the health secretary, said there was no shortage of antibiotics and stock could be moved if areas had supply problems.
However, on Monday the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), which oversees Barclay, issued a supply notice for antibiotics to treat strep A.
“Supplies of antibiotics for the treatment of group A strep have experienced increased demand and may be temporarily in limited supply at certain wholesalers and pharmacies,” the alert said. “Supplies are available from manufacturers and deliveries to wholesalers and pharmacies are being expedited and are expected in the coming days.”
Reena Barai of the National Pharmacy Association said earlier this week that the supply chain for medicines in the UK was “broken”.
A DHSC spokesman said: “Manufacturers currently have supplies of antibiotics to treat Strep A.
“We continue to work urgently with manufacturers and wholesalers to expedite deliveries, advance the stock they hold to help ensure it gets where it’s needed, and increase supply to meet demand as quickly as possible and support access to these vital medicines”.