The Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA) has welcomed the publication of The House of Lords Public Services Committee report on medicines security, which calls for strengthening the resilience of the UK’s medicines supply chain to better support the nation’s health.
The Parliamentary committee had noted that the country's medicine supply chain was increasingly vulnerable to disruption because of its heavy reliance on global supply chains, changing geopolitical conditions, and pressures on domestic systems.
The trade body welcomed the committee’s recommendations and said they are willing to work with the Government and other industry partners to ensure patients have access to the right medicine, in the right place, at the right time.
The HDA wants the government to prioritise several of the report’s recommendations.
- Acceleration of the digitisation of the medicine supply chain, including mandating 2D barcodes to support effective stock management.
- Tackling inspection and licensing backlogs for Controlled Drugs premises, with a review of responsibilities if no progress is made within six months.
- Mandating greater information sharing regarding stock levels so that the Department of Health can better judge demand and shortage risks.
- Improving communications regarding shortages by providing information in a more timely manner to pharmacies and hospitals.
Commenting on the report’s publication and recommendations, HDA executive director, Martin Sawer, noted, “The HDA welcomes the House of Lords Public Services Committee report and recommendations many of which the HDA supports.
"As this comprehensive inquiry concluded: ‘The Government has to understand the value of resilience and decide how much it is willing to work with industry to achieve this.’ Medicines supply should be considered as a national critical infrastructure, and this report backs this up.”
