NHS: Procurement

(asked on 3rd October 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the cost of procuring equipment in the NHS.


Answered by
Edward Argar Portrait
Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This question was answered on 8th October 2019

The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for leaving the European Union. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products once we have left the EU.

The sustainability of the National Health Service is an absolute priority for the Government. We recognise that suppliers may incur additional storage costs for stockpiling medicines or switching to air freight as part of preparations for a potential ‘no deal’ EU exit. We have been working closely with industry to minimise costs and support medical suppliers taking part in the contingency programme.

We are also clear that in any negotiations on future trade agreements, we could not agree to any proposals on pricing or access that would put NHS finances at risk or reduce clinician and patient choice.

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