UK government offer advice to pharmaceutical supply chains

The UK Department of Health (DoH) has issued new guidelines calling for drug manufacturers to make their supply chains “more robust” after pharmaceutical supply chains across the UK were widely disrupted because of inclement weather.

"Manufacturers should have robust supply arrangements in place that ensure medicines are distributed to pharmacies and dispensing doctors in an efficient and timely way. Care should be taken to ensure that sufficient stock is put into the UK market to meet UK patients' needs," the DoH said.

The department called on organisations across the pharmaceutical supply chain, regulators and government to work together to ensure that patients can continue to obtain medicines quickly and conveniently from the pharmacy.

According to the DoH, quotas will be used to try to ensure fair distribution of medicines when "out of the ordinary demand" exceeds available supply. However, it went on to note that any allocation of quotas must be flexible enough to cope with reasonable fluctuations in demand. Where quotas are used, manufacturers should ensure that they are set equitably.

"Manufacturers should have contingency arrangements in place to supply product where stock is exhausted at wholesalers, pharmacies or doctors' dispensaries. These arrangements may include the direct shipment of stock to pharmacies or doctors' dispensaries or joint working with wholesalers to ensure supply through the normal wholesaling channel," the guidance added.

"Manufacturers should, where appropriate, make available and advertise a dedicated supply shortages phone helpline, which has sufficient capacity and is adequately resourced with appropriately trained personnel,” the DoH said.

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