Radioisotopes

(asked on 3rd October 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with representatives from the British Nuclear Medicine Society on the delivery of medical radioisotopes.


Answered by
Edward Argar Portrait
Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This question was answered on 8th October 2019

The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for leaving the European Union. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products once we have left the EU.

The department, as part of our EU exit preparations, is implementing a multi-layered approach to mitigate potential disruption to supply, which consists of stockpiling where possible, securing freight capacity, changing or clarifying regulatory requirements, procuring additional warehousing, working closely with industry to improve trader readiness and putting in place the National Supply Disruption Response to manage potential shortages. Further details can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plans

For any products that require air freight, such as some medical radioisotopes, the Department is continuing to work with all suppliers to ensure this is in place ahead of 31 October. The Department can confirm that all relevant suppliers now have plans in place or are already airfreighting into the United Kingdom.

The Department is also undertaking joint operational testing, with key suppliers and other Government Departments (Border Delivery Group, HM Revenue and Customs, Border Force) at East Midlands airport to ensure the uninterrupted flow of goods. This testing includes medical radioisotopes.

The Department is in active communication with the British Nuclear Medicine Society as well as with the Royal College of Radiologists and the UK Radiopharmacy Group.

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