Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that stocks of medicines that are in short supply are distributed equitably and proportionately amongst community pharmacies.
The Department is unable to directly control how stock is distributed as this is under the control of the individual suppliers or wholesalers. However, in the event of supply issues the Department will work with suppliers and wholesalers to encourage and support them, so where possible, supplies are distributed equitably and proportionally.