The UK will leave the EU Single Market and Customs Union on 31st December 2020 and NHSE&I have been working closely with the Department of the Health and Social Care (DHSC) to help minimise the possibility of disruptions to the supply of medicines.

In a recent letter from DHSC, pharmacies are reminded that:

“… it is not necessary for local providers, whether in hospitals or primary care, to stockpile medicines or for clinicians to write longer prescriptions for patients.”

Community pharmacy contractors should also note the letter’s reference to the recent update on the EU Falsified Medicines Directive from UK FMD Working Group for Community Pharmacy, which includes next steps regarding local pharmacy systems and disconnecting them from the FMD systems.