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<p>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 on GOV.UK.</p><p>
</p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p>In August 2018, the Department wrote to
all pharmaceutical companies that supply prescription-only and pharmacy medicines,
including those to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis, to the United Kingdom that
come from or via the EU/European Economic Area, asking them to ensure a minimum of
six weeks’ additional supply in the UK over and above existing business-as-usual buffer
stocks by 29 March 2019.</p><p> </p><p>This has been a very large undertaking but
the response from industry has been extremely positive. The vast majority of companies
have confirmed stockpiling plans are in place and medicines continue to arrive to
deliver on these plans.</p><p> </p><p>Local stockpiling of medicines is unnecessary
and could cause shortages in other areas, which could put patient care at risk. It
is important that patients order their repeat prescriptions as normal and keep taking
their medicines as normal.</p><p> </p><p>We are confident that if everyone does what
they need to do, the supply of medicines and other medical products will be uninterrupted.</p>
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