Thousands of patients in the UK could lose access to medications used to manage chronic pain, campaigners warned on Thursday, as pressure mounted on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence over proposed prescribing restrictions. Patient advocacy groups accused regulators of dismissing women's pain.

Many women reliant on specific pain drugs faced losing access under tightened guidance, campaigners reported. They described the situation as "medical misogyny", arguing that conditions disproportionately affecting women were being deprioritised in funding and prescribing decisions.

Several charities, including those representing patients with endometriosis and fibromyalgia, called on the Department of Health and Social Care to intervene. They cited clinical evidence that abrupt withdrawal of long-term pain medication can cause severe physical and psychological harm to established patients.

A NICE spokesperson said any review aimed to ensure treatments were safe, effective and supported by robust evidence, with patient consultation forming part of the process. The MHRA said it kept the safety of all medicines under continuous review.

The dispute reflects a wider tension across health systems between cost containment, drug-safety concerns and patient access, echoing recent legal challenges such as the case of a Kilkenny woman suing Ireland's HSE over delays in accessing rare-disease medication.