Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the shortage of the drug Chloroquine.

The Department is working closely with industry, the National Health Service and others in the supply chain to help ensure patients can access the medicines they need, including chloroquine, and precautions are in place to reduce the likelihood of future shortages.

Chloroquine is not currently licensed to treat COVID-19 related symptoms or prevent infection. Clinical trials are being established to test chloroquine as an agent in the treatment of COVID-19. Supplies of chloroquine for patients that are using this medicine for its licensed indications can be accessed through usual routes. The company has experienced a significant increase in demand recently, so are working with their wholesalers to manage orders and are working hard to make further stocks available. In addition, there is an export ban in place to protect United Kingdom stocks of chloroquine that are intended for UK patients.