People with pancreatic cancer may become too unwell to have surgery - the only way to potentially cure the disease - and may be less able to tolerate treatments such as chemotherapy, according to Pancreatic Cancer UK.
A survey of 572 patients by Pancreatic Cancer UK in 2024 found 82% had struggled to obtain their usual PERT prescription on more than one occasion, almost one in five (19%) had frequently gone without taking PERT and 71% were taking a lower dose than they needed or had altered their diet.
EPI can be brought on for no obvious reason, according to the NHS, but is also commonly caused by acute or chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic surgery, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic cancer, gastric-bypass surgery or coeliac disease.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Friday, Mr Streeting said there were "global supply chain issues" and the UK was working "actively to try and strengthen our supply chain resilience".
PERT provides the enzymes people with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) need to absorb nutrients, essentially allowing them to digest food, because their condition means their pancreas isn't able to break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates as it should.
