To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his department are taking to support NHS pharmacy contractors affected by medicine supply issues.

Medicine supply chains are complex and global, and the overwhelming Majority of medicines remain in good supply. As set out in A guide to the systems and processes for managing medicines supply issues in England, we have a range of established tools to manage disruption and support contractors when issues arise. These include working with suppliers to expedite deliveries, issuing timely guidance to pharmacy contractors, supporting access to alternative strengths or formulations, and sourcing unlicensed imports where appropriate. A guide to the systems and processes for managing medicines supply issues in England is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/a-guide-to-the-systems-and-processes-for-managing-medicines-supply-issues-in-england/

Last August we also provided more information on the actions we are taking to protect patients from medicines shortages in the Managing a robust and resilient supply of medicines publication, which includes actions that help pharmacy contractors affected by medicine supply issues. Managing a robust and resilient supply of medicines is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-a-robust-and-resilient-supply-of-medicines/managing-a-robust-and-resilient-supply-of-medicines

Examples of specific tools directly relevant to pharmacy contractors include:

• Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) to manage and mitigate medicine shortages. An SSP enables community pharmacists to supply a specified medicine in accordance with a protocol rather than a prescription, without needing to seek authorisation from the prescriber; and

• if the market price of a medicine suddenly increases, concessionary prices can be granted in that month, increasing the reimbursement price above the published Drug Tariff reimbursement price. This arrangement helps ensure that pharmacy contractors can continue to obtain sufficient stock for their patients.