Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency chair Sir Michael Rawlins warns that many patients could be ‘seriously disadvantaged’ by a disruption to the importing of certain drugs if the UK exists the EU without a deal.

The supply of certain medicines such as insulin are not manufactured in the UK, and there could be a disruption to the supply as the drug needs to be kept at a certain temperature, complicating transportation.

“MHRA chair Sir Michael Rawlins warns that many patients could be ‘seriously disadvantaged’ by a disruption to the importing of certain drugs if the UK exists the EU without a deal. “

Rawlins said “We don’t make insulin in the UK. With 3.5 million people in the UK relying on insulin, the department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Exiting the EU need to work out how the supply of medicines are going to be guaranteed in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit, given that insulin must be temperature controlled, making it more difficult to transport.” He added “we can’t start manufacturing insulin, so if nothing is sorted, then patients requiring insulin could be disadvantaged.”

Wholesalers and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society have expressed concerns over the supply of imported medical supplies and are in talks with the government over the implications of a no-deal Brexit in order to be able to prepare as necessary in order to meet patient needs.