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<p>On 27 September the National Audit Office published a report on the readiness of
the Department’s preparations for the post-European Union exit supply of medicines
and medical products. We want to reassure patients we are doing everything we can
to help make sure they can access the medicines they need after EU exit, whatever
the circumstances.</p><p>We continue to implement a multi-layered approach to minimize
any supply disruption on medicines and medical supplies, should the United Kingdom
leave the EU without a deal. These plans include:</p><p>- Procuring additional capacity
on alternative routes (away from the short straits) for goods to continue to come
into the UK ahead EU exit;</p><p>- buffer stocks and stockpiling (where this is practical)
or asking industry or the NHS Supply Chain to build up buffer stocks in the UK ahead
of EU exit;</p><p>- Arrangements to deal with shortages in addition to normal shortage
management routes, enabling ministers to issue serious shortage protocols to pharmacists;</p><p>-
additional warehouse space for stockpiled medicines, including ambient, refrigerated
and controlled drug storage;</p><p>- working with industry to improve trader readiness
in preparation for the new customs procedures that will come into force on day 1 if
we leave the EU without a deal; and</p><p>- changing or clarifying regulatory requirements
so that companies can continue to sell their products in the UK if the UK leaves without
a deal.</p><p>The Department has implemented a multi-layered approach to mitigate
potential disruption to supply. No one measure is relied on at any point in time in
order to support uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products.</p>
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