Scotland releases drug supply plans to prepare for possible no-deal Brexit

As MPs remain unable to agree on a Brexit deal, the Scottish government has outlined plans to mitigate any potential drug shortages in the event of a no deal.

A joint letter from Scotland's CMO Catherine Calderwood and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Rose Marie Parker published March 28 outlined preparations being made to resolve shortages in Scotland. For "low impact shortages," those preparations would include having community pharmacists amend existing prescriptions electronically using guidance from the ePharmacy Programme in Scotland to use an alternative strength, formulation and/or quantity of drug. For "more serious shortages" of medicines, the letter stated that "serious shortage protocols" may be developed and clinically authorized to enable pharmacists to amend prescriptions...