UK Unveils ‘No Deal’ Brexit Contingency Plan

The UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) released a contingency plan in anticipation of a possible “no deal” Brexit situation that could potentially disrupt the supply of medical devices that are imported into the UK from EU countries.

The UK plans to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, but a “no deal” Brexit could disrupt supplies of devices and clinical products. In preparation, the department analyzed supply chains for medical devices and clinical consumables to identify the proportion of products that are routinely imported.

DHSC is taking steps to ensure that medical devices and clinical consumables supplied from EU countries continue to move smoothly to National Health Service organizations. Stocks of devices and consumables will be increased nationwide as a part of the contingency measures.

“The government’s contingency plans have been developed so that the infrastructure and logistics capability of the NHS supply chain will be able to accommodate and manage these increased volumes,” DHSC said in an Aug. 23 letter to stakeholders.

Suppliers will be contacted in September about their contingency plans and the need to ramp up production and supply of products when necessary. The department urged companies that have already made contingency plans to send in details. — James Miessler