PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Drugs (6 February 2024)

Disruptions to the supply of medicines used for the management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been primarily driven by issues which have resulted in capacity constraints at key manufacturing sites.

The Department has been working closely with the respective manufacturers and some issues have now been resolved. However, we know that there continue to be disruptions to the supply of some other medicines, and work continues to resolve the remaining supply issues by April or May this year.

We understand how frustrating and distressing medicine supply issues can be and we want to assure you that we are working with the respective manufacturers to resolve the issues with ADHD medicine supply in the United Kingdom as soon as possible, and to help ensure patients are able to access these medicines in the short and long term.

While we cannot always prevent supply issues from occurring, the Department already has a range of well-established processes and tools to manage them when they arise, and to help mitigate risks to patients. There is a team within the Department that deals specifically with medicine supply problems, and it works closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the pharmaceutical industry, NHS England, the devolved administrations, and others operating in the supply chain to help prevent shortages and to ensure that the risks to patients are minimised when shortages do arise.