Supply issues

UK ‘not fully prepared’ for medicines importation in a no-deal Brexit, says hospital pharmacist body

The UK is “not fully prepared for the implications of a no-deal Brexit” despite ongoing government contingency plans, the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists has said.…

HRT stock update shows that supply problems are set to continue into 2020

The Department of Health and Social Care has said that six hormone replacement therapy products will be out of stock for the foreseeable future, with others facing ongoing problems well into 2020.…

Half of all safety warnings issued to drug manufacturers in India and China

The majority of warnings from European and US drug regulators are to drug manufacturing sites in India and China, raising concerns about the fragility of the global supply chain.…

India and China spark concerns for UK drug supplies

Recent regulatory breaches at drug manufacturing sites in India and China have raised questions about whether the UK needs to repatriate production of critical medicines. …

Shortage of epilepsy medicine to continue until end of October, manufacturer says

All strengths of the epilepsy medicine Gabitril will be out of stock in the UK until the end of October 2019, the drug’s manufacturer has said.…

Leaked government document warns of ‘severe delays’ to medicines supply after no-deal Brexit

Exiting the EU with no deal in place will leave the UK’s supply of drugs “particularly vulnerable to severe extended delays” at the Channel crossing, a leaked government report has warned.…

Government tenders £25m contract for ‘express freight service’ to transport urgent medicines after Brexit

The Department of Health and Social Care is looking for bids on a contract to set up an “express freight service” ahead of the UK leaving the EU at the end of October 2019.…

Industry and pharmacy bodies confirm signing government ‘gagging orders’ over no-deal Brexit plans

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee is one of several pharmacy bodies to have signed non-disclosure agreements preventing them from disclosing the UK government’s plans for a no-deal Brexit.…

Plans for importing medical isotopes changed after government review of no-deal Brexit proposals

Plans for daily importing of medical isotopes by plane after a no-deal Brexit were found to be inefficient following a government review, the NHS Confederation has said.…

HRT shortages prompts guidance on availability

Shortages of hormone replacement therapy have prompted the British Menopause Society to issue guidance on the supplies that are currently available.…