Contracts awarded to deliver medicines after Brexit

The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that three companies have been awarded contracts for the express freight service to deliver medicines and medical products within 48 hours if there's a no-deal Brexit.

UPS, DFDS and Biocair have been awarded the contracts for the £25 million express freight service, first announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock in August. The service provides access to specialised express logistics networks that can move the wide range of medicines, devices and products required for the delivery of safe, high-quality care for patients across the UK.

The express freight service will support existing plans already in place, including: building buffer stocks of medicines and medical products; changing or clarifying regulatory requirements so that companies can continue to sell their products in the UK if we leave the EU without a deal; strengthening the process and resources used to deal with shortages; the procurement of additional warehouse capacity; and supporting companies to improve the readiness of their logistics and supply chains to meet the new customs and border requirements for both import and export.

Hancock said: “This dedicated delivery service will get urgent supplies and short shelf-life medicines, like radioisotopes for cancer treatments, rapidly into the country, including by plane where necessary. It is just one element of our detailed and robust preparations for Brexit, which includes stockpiling and additional ferry capacity. We now have detailed plans in place for every medicine – including those with short shelf-lives – to help ensure that the supply of medicines and medical products are uninterrupted through Brexit.”

Mike Thompson, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: “Industry has been doing everything in its power to make sure people get the medicines they need. Whilst there are many things beyond their control, this is an important contingency plan that will help our members continue their preparations – alongside the stockpiles they have already built and alternative freight routes they have secured.”