Pharmacies urged to stockpile in case of Brexit disruption

The government has said that pharmaceutical companies should stockpile six weeks’ worth of drugs to guard against disruption at the end of the Brexit transition period.

A letter from the Department of Health and Social Care to medicine suppliers reiterates that ministers will not be asking for an extension to the transition period past 31 December, despite the coronavirus pandemic. This has prompted further concerns that the current health crisis has led to a dwindling of some medical stocks and that a disorderly exit without a trade deal could cause significant disruption.

This is in addition to ongoing worries that the UK and the EU will be unable to strike an agreement on a future relationship before time runs out.

The British Medical Association, the trade union representing doctors, warned the stockpile is ‘at best a short-term solution’.

David Wrigley, the BMA’s deputy council chairman, said: “With the transition period only months away and at the height of what will be an undoubtedly difficult winter, this is incredibly concerning. The BMA has consistently warned that a no-deal Brexit could have a potentially devastating impact on the NHS and consequently the health of the nation. Now, more than ever, it is absolutely crucial that the government secure a relationship that protects the future health of this country.”