Drugs: Supply and Availability

Baroness Rawlings Excerpts

Wednesday 14th June 2023 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Rawlings]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure the continued supply and availability of (1) prescription, and (2) non-prescription, drugs.

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords, the department is focused on helping to ensure continuity of supply of medicines to the NHS. We have a well-established process to manage and mitigate medicine supply issues, working closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the pharmaceutical industry, NHS England, devolved Governments and others operating in the supply chain to help prevent shortages and ensure that risks to patients are minimised when they arise.

[Baroness Rawlings (Con)]

I thank the Minister for his Answer. Despite what the Government are doing, would he agree that, even though there are pharmaceutical shortages worldwide, aspects of this in the UK have been exacerbated by Brexit? As of April 2023, there are 301 drugs in shortage—100 more than in the same time five years ago. I know the Government have kept a close eye on shortages and supplies, but what are HMG doing to prepare for the forecast shortages of sunblock creams—a vital skin cancer preventive—just in case we have a good and sunny summer?