Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which medical products imported to the UK cannot be stockpiled due to (a) time limits on transport, (b) temperature restrictions, (c) short shelf lives and (d) any other reason.

The Department has been working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in England to make detailed plans that should ensure continuation of the supply of all medicines and medical products to the whole of the United Kingdom in the event of a ‘no deal’ European Union exit. For those medicines that cannot be stockpiled because, for example, they have short shelf-lives, such as medical radioisotopes, we have asked suppliers to make alternative arrangements using airfreight. We have offered support to companies to arrange this.

In parallel, the Department is setting up an express freight service designed to transport medicines and medical products into the UK if a supplier’s own contingency measures encounter difficulties or where there is a specific medical need.