The Department of Health must stop sticking its head in the sand over drug supply shortages, the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers has cautioned. The BAPW chairman, Mark James, said: “”We work in a supply chain which presents many conflicting incentives, and we must have leadership from the Department of Health.” The BAPW attended MAB’s recent seminar at which the Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP, the chair of the All Party Pharmacy Group spoke about the issues surrounding the drugs shortages in light of the recent APPG report.
Paul Gershlick, a Partner and Head of Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences at Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP, comments: “I don’t think many people at our recent seminar would disagree that the Department of Health needs to do more. The issue is that those in the pharmaceutical supply chain do not agree over what should be done. There needs to be more cohesion and leadership for the good of patients in order to solve this crisis. I welcome Mr James’ comment that all stakeholders must work together to reach a joint solution in recognition of the complexity of the issue rather than playing a blame game.”