AQW 23582/17-22

Mr Alex Easton
Independent
North Down

Tabled Date: 04/10/2021
Answered On Date: 08/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health how many medicines will not be available should the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland continue in its present form.

Answer:

My Department is aware that a number of confirmed and potential discontinuations of medicines to Northern Ireland have been formally notified to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

This information is provided confidentially to the DHSC by suppliers of medicines to the United Kingdom, to support medicine supply contingency programmes following the end of the EU Exit transition period.

Department of Health officials continue to closely monitor the situation and have been working with the DHSC medicines supply team to risk assess each discontinuation on a line by line basis and to put in place mitigations should they be needed.

There is no immediate risk to medicines supplies in Northern Ireland and there is no need for patients to do anything differently with regard to ordering or taking their prescribed medication.

It is important to recognise that medicines and medical devices are manufactured as part of a global and highly complex industry. Therefore shortages of medicines and other medical supplies are not uncommon for reasons unconnected to the UK’s exit from the EU. There are already national and locally tried and tested mitigation arrangements in place for dealing with any supply disruptions to ensure that patients continue to get the medicines and medical supplies they need. These include (but not limited to) communicating with the primary and secondary healthcare settings detailing any potential shortages or issues with the supply chain and the best alternative products.