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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>The
Government has been working closely with industry to ensure the supply of medicines,
including those which are used to treat people with terminal illnesses, 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>The Department, together with industry and the National Health
Service, has analysed the supply chains of 12,300 medicines and we are grateful for
excellent engagement from all parties, which means our plans are well advanced.</p><p>In
August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that supply prescription-only
and pharmacy medicines, including those used to treat patients with terminal illnesses,
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 in the event of a ‘no deal’
EU exit.</p><p>The Department has put in place a multi-layered approach to minimise
any supply disruption. We are confident that, if everyone does what they need to do,
the supply of medicines and medical products will be uninterrupted.</p>
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