Government ‘confident’ over medicines supply in the event of no-deal Brexit

The government has said it is “confident” measures are in place to ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products to the health and social care sectors in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Minister of State for Health Stephen Hammond provided an update for the House of Commons on contingency plans yesterday as the UK prepares to exit the EU next month.

Mr Hammond said: “While we never give guarantees, we are confident that, if everyone – including suppliers, freight companies, international partners and the health and care system – does what they need to do, the supply of medicines and medical products should be uninterrupted in the event of exiting the EU without a deal.”

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The Minister said the government had taken a “multi-layered approach” to minimise any supply disruption, including providing additional port capacity and building buffer stock and stockpiling products ahead of the EU exit date on March 29.

Around three-quarters of medicines and over half clinical consumables are imported from or via the EU.

Responding to the Minister’s statement Niall Dickson, co-chair of the Brexit Health Alliance and chief executive of the NHS Confederation, called for a Brexit agreement with a transition period. Mr Dickson said ‘no deal’ in spite of the government’s efforts meant more risk.

Concerns have grown over the impact of Brexit on the social care sector as the likelihood of no-deal outcome has risen in recent weeks.

Care stakeholders have warned that Brexit could exacerbate the sector’s recruitment crisis (see Brexit set to worsen workforce crisis in social care, says ADASS).

Care food suppliers apetito and Bidfood have, meanwhile, warned they are stockpiling products to prepare for a possible no-deal Brexit (see Major care home suppliers stockpiling food in case of no-deal Brexit).