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<p>The Government fully understands that maintaining access to all medicines and medical
products, including critical medicines and short shelf-life products, is vitally important
to millions of people in this country. Ensuring unhindered supply of these products
remains the Government’s top priority.</p><p> </p><p>As in preparation for 29 March
and 12 April, our ‘no deal’ EU Exit contingency plans for 31 October will cover the
NHS, social care and the independent sector and covers all medicines, medical devices
and clinical consumables, supplies for clinical trials, vaccines and countermeasures,
and organs and tissues for transplants.</p><p>The Department has continued to work
closely with the Devolved Administrations, industry trade bodies and suppliers, the
NHS and other key stakeholders. Prior to 29 March, the Department analysed the supply
chains of 12,300 medicines, close to half a million product lines of medical devices
and clinical consumables, vaccines used in national and local programmes, and essential
non-clinical goods on which the health and care system relies. These analyses and
assessments have been updated where necessary and will continue to be refined while
a ‘no deal’ EU Exit remains a possibility. This work has informed our plans.</p><p>We
are asking suppliers to analyse their supply chains and to make alternative plans
if they anticipate disruption, including rerouting to alternative ports or using airfreight
where necessary. Our contingency measures aim to support industry-led measures and,
where required, act as a ‘last resort’ to be used only when a supplier’s alternative
arrangements encounter difficulties, to ensure uninterrupted supply.</p><p>In the
case of medicines that cannot be stockpiled because, for example, they have short
shelf-lives, such as medical radioisotopes, we are working closely with suppliers
to make alternative arrangements using airfreight.</p><p>Further details can be found
at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plans"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plans</a></p><p>While
we never give guarantees, we are confident that, if everyone – including suppliers,
freight companies, international partners and the health and care system – does what
they need to do, the supply of medicines and medical products should be uninterrupted
in the event of a no-deal EU Exit.</p>
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