Government offers £25m to ensure drug supply after Brexit
The government is planning a £25m contract to ensure British pharmacies and medicine cabinets stay stocked after Brexit.
The contract will ensure that small parcels of medicines or medical products get into the country within 24 hours, with larger deliveries every two or four days.
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“I want to ensure that when we leave the EU at the end of October, all appropriate steps have been taken to ensure frontline services are fully prepared,” said health minister Chris Skidmore.
The 12-month service, which could be extended, is part of increased arrangements made for the Brexit deadline on 31 October.
The Treasury had thrown an extra £2bn at the problem, as the country prepares itself for the potential that Britain will leave the EU without a deal.
More than £430m of that will be used to ensure that medicines and medical products are still supplied to those who need them.
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“That’s why we are stepping up preparations and strengthening our already extremely resilient contingency plans.
“This express freight service sends a clear message to the public that our plans should ensure supply of medical goods remains uninterrupted as we leave the EU.”