NHS: Drugs

(asked on 13th February 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has in place to (a) (i) monitor and (ii) identify gaps in the medicines being stockpiled by pharmaceutical companies and (b) protect the supply of medicines not being stockpiled by pharmaceutical companies.


Answered by
Stephen Hammond Portrait
Stephen Hammond
This question was answered on 22nd February 2019

In August 2018, the Department asked suppliers to confirm arrangements in respect of prescription-only and pharmacy medicines that come from or via the European Union /European Economic Area. Company responses have provided the Department with an indication of industry’s ability and preparedness to stockpile six weeks’ worth of additional supply of each of the in-scope medicines in the United Kingdom ahead of 29 March 2019.

Since then, we have continued to receive very good engagement and are working closely with industry on a product-by-product basis. Companies share our aims of ensuring continuity of medicines supply for patients is maintained and that suppliers are able to cope with any potential delays at the border that may arise in the short term in a ‘no deal’ scenario.

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