Industry’s Brexit worries start to show
EPM editor Reece Armstrong examines the impact a no-deal Brexit would place on medicines supply in the UK.
Another edition means another Brexit development. Well perhaps development is a bit of a strong word considering how many things seem to be up in the air at the moment.
The latest Brexit news comes from logistics export, Tudor International Freight, who warns businesses trading with the EU to brace for disruption if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Indeed, with the UK set to leave the EU in less than six months, the notion of leaving without a deal is a “very real” possibility, warns managing director David Johnson.
Other developments came from a Health and Social Care Committee held in October, which aimed to look at the impact of a no-deal Brexit and featured representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, as well as a number of MPs.
The session made it clear that there are major concerns surrounding the delivery of medicines into the UK. What keeps Martin Sawyer, executive director, Healthcare Distribution Association, up at night is the complicated, integrated supply chain that currently exists between the EU and the UK.
“On average, 50% of the medicines in most of our depots have been through the EU before they get to UK warehouses, and this whole integrated supply chain that we rely on was clearly set up after we joined the EU. It is only in the last 20 years that it has been put in place. It is very sophisticated—twice‑a‑day delivery “just in time.”
Logistical issues are made more complicated by the cold-chain storage required for the transportation of certain medicines and biologics. Mike Thompson, chief executive, Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) pointed out that “there are no cold-chain facilities at the border ports” and that is why “we rely on real frictionless trade to be able to move medicines quickly.”
Of course, plans for a no-deal Brexit have been put in place since last December, with members of the ABPI being requested to “build an extra six weeks’ stock,” according to Thompson. Whilst commendable, there are no illusions that stockpiling medicines will be an effective solution to any potential shortages in the UK.
Worse still, there are not enough cold-chain warehouses in the UK to cover the stockpiles that are being created, meaning the government is now having to build additional cold-chain units to house the extra medicines.
If this all sounds a bit complicated it’s because we know that Brexit has been, if anything, smooth sailing. Thankfully, a focus on ensuring patients are having their medicines delivered when needed was a point raised many times during the committee.
“Our main concern is to ensure that we can continue to deliver the medicines that patients need, both here and on the continent, through this period. That is the thing we have been working hardest to do,” Thompson said.
But whilst the sentiment is appreciated, the vagueness of the current situation means that we’re heading into Brexit with a looming worry over how likely it is patients will be able to receive their required medicines – something which should be considered unacceptable for a country of relative modernity.