PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Epilepsy: Drugs (18 February 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2019 to Question 211841, what specific steps his Department has taken to ensure the supply of epilepsy medication in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Asked by:
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour)

We understand that epilepsy medicines are vitally important to many people in this country. Our contingency plans aim to ensure that the supply of epilepsy medicines and other essential medicines to patients is not disrupted in all European Union exit scenarios, including in the event of a ‘no deal’ exit.

In August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that supply prescription-only and pharmacy medicines to the United Kingdom that come from, or via, the EU/European Economic Area asking them to ensure a minimum of six weeks’ additional supply in the UK, over and above existing business-as-usual buffer stocks, by 29 March 2019.

On 7 December, the Government published updated reasonable worst-case scenario border disruption planning assumptions in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit. Medicines and medical products are prioritised in cross-Government planning, and the Department is working with relevant partners across Government and industry to ensure we have sufficient roll-on, roll-off freight capacity on alternative routes to enable these vital products to continue to move freely into the UK.

Throughout the implementation of our plans, we have received very good engagement from industry who share our aims of ensuring that the supply of medicines and medical products can continue unhindered in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit.

Answered by:
Stephen Hammond (Conservative)
26 February 2019