Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what contingency plans have been put in place to ensure the continued supply of general sales list medicines that are important for the management of specific health conditions after the UK has left the EU.

Leaving the European Union with a deal remains the Government’s top priority. However, as a responsible Government we must plan for every possible outcome including ‘no deal’. The Department has published guidance to industry and the health and care system to allow them to make informed plans and preparations. This is available online at GOV.UK.

The Government has been working closely with industry to ensure the supply of medicines can continue uninterrupted in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit, including building stockpiles, providing additional warehousing space and buying freight capacity on alternative ferry routes. Our plans cover all medicines and medical products, including general sales list medicines.

The Department will continue to work on its ‘no deal’ plans, and we are writing in similar terms to all other organisations in the health and care system to ask them to continue and not to wind down their contingency plans at this stage. The Department wrote to all suppliers of medicines to the United Kingdom on 26 March to advise them of the changes to EU exit dates, and ask them to continue with preparations to protect patients in all possible outcomes.