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<p>Our number one priority is to ensure patients continue to have unhindered access
to medicines as we exit the European Union and we are working with all sectors in
the supply chain to ensure this happens.</p><p> </p><p>The Government remains committed
to leaving the EU with a deal. Under the conditions of the Withdrawal Agreement, there
will be a two-year Implementation Period within which the Government will negotiate
the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the EU. During the Implementation Period,
there will be no change to the current trading arrangements with the EU/European Economic
Area (EEA), meaning the supply of medicines and medical products will continue unhindered.</p><p>
</p><p>As a responsible Government, we are planning for all possible exit scenarios,
including ‘no deal’. Our ‘no deal’ medicines supply contingency plans include sensible
mitigations for medicines that come to the United Kingdom from or via the EU/ EEA
to ensure that the supply of essential medicines, is not disrupted.</p><p> </p><p>In
August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that supply prescription-only
and pharmacy medicines to the UK that come from, or via, the EU/EEA 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. The response from industry has
been very positive. The vast majority of companies have confirmed stockpiling plans
are in place.</p><p> </p><p>On 7 December, the Government published updated reasonable
worst-case scenario border disruption planning assumptions in the event of a ‘no deal’
EU exit. Medicines and medical products are prioritised in cross-Government planning,
and the Department is working with relevant partners across Government and industry
to ensure we have sufficient roll-on, roll-off freight capacity on alternative routes
to enable these vital products to continue to move freely into the UK.</p><p> </p><p>We
are confident that if everyone does what they need to do, supplies will continue unhindered.
The Department does not expect to see significant changes to existing medicine supply
chains or capacity in the intervening period between now and 29 March 2019, although
we will be monitoring this closely.</p>
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