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<p>There are approximately 14,000 medicines licensed for supply in the United Kingdom,
and the overwhelming majority are in good supply. The medicine supply chain is complex,
global, and highly regulated, and supply issues can be caused by a range of factors.
For example, suppliers can encounter manufacturing problems, difficulty accessing
raw materials, and surges in demand. These are commonly cited as the drivers of recent
supply issues, which have affected many countries, not just the UK.</p><p>The number
of supply issue notifications received by the Department has remained relatively stable
through 2022 and 2023. This followed an initial increase in 2021 following the introduction
of a new reporting portal for manufacturers, in October 2020, which is used to notify
the Department of potential issues, shortages, and discontinuations.</p><p>Whilst
we can’t always prevent supply issues, we have a range of well-established tools and
processes to mitigate risks to patients. These include close and regular engagement
with suppliers, use of alternative strengths or forms of a medicine to allow patients
to remain on the same product, expediting regulatory procedures, sourcing unlicensed
imports from abroad, adding products to the restricted exports and hoarding list,
use of Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs), and issuing National Health Service communications
to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals,
so they can advise and support their patients.</p>
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