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<p>The Department has well-established tools and processes to manage supply issues
whenever they arise, helping to prevent shortages and mitigate risks to patients.
We work with industry, NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency, devolved administrations and other stakeholders to help ensure patients continue
to have access to the treatments they need.</p><p>The Department has been working
with industry to help boost supplies of medicines for the treatment of type 2 diabetes,
and the position is improving as a result. Some supply issues remain, but we are continuing
to work hard to resolve these as quickly as possible. We have issued guidance to all
healthcare professionals on how to manage patients requiring these medicines whilst
supply is disrupted. Our guidance is clear that medicines licensed for the treatment
of type 2 diabetes should only be used for this purpose.</p><p>Regarding cancer medicines,
we are aware of an issue with the supply of letrozole tablets from one supplier. We
have been working with alternative suppliers, who have confirmed that they have the
stock available to meet demand. A supplier of tamoxifen tablets is also experiencing
supply issues, but again we have worked with alternative suppliers to help ensure
they can support the market at this time.</p><p>Regarding medicines for mental health
treatments, the Department has been working with manufacturers of attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder medicines and a number of issues have now been resolved. Work
continues to resolve the remaining supply issues by April 2024. We have issued a National
Patient Safety Alert and worked with clinicians to develop helpful guidance on how
to manage patients during this time.</p>
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