UK announces £3m plan to support no deal medicines transport

The UK government has announced additional plans to support the transport of medicines in the event of a no deal Brexit.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will attempt to secure an 'express freight service' which will transport medicines into the UK within hours of a no deal Brexit.

The plans, which are costing £3 million, involve setting up a freight capacity framework agreement enabling government departments to secure freight capacity for critical supply chains as and when required.

It's hoped that this will support an uninterrupted supply of medicines where there is an urgent need or when suppliers' logistics plans are disrupted.

Through the plans, medicines and medical products including vaccines, medical devices, supplies for clinical trials and more will be prioritised. The government will also hope to build up buffer stocks for prioritised sectors.

Lastly the government plans to secure additional warehouse space for stockpiled medicines including temperature controlled drug storage.

The government has reiterated its intentions to work with the industry on new custom procedures and to clarify the regulatory requirements so companies can continue to sell their medical products in the UK in the event of a no deal Brexit.