247 different medicines used by Irish patients are currently out-of-stock.
Of the 247 unavailable at the minute, 13 of them are on the World Health Organisation's "critical medicines" list.
Latest figures from the Medicine Shortage Index show the number is up 19 since the end of last month.
There are now shortages in common medical devices used for nasal sprays, inhalers and eye drops.
Sandra Gannon, CEO of Azure Pharmaceuticals, which compiles the index, says a new trend is emerging....
