**London**: Experts highlight the UK’s dependence on China for essential medicines like antibiotics, warning of risks associated with geopolitical tensions. A report calls for enhanced resilience through improved transparency, cohesive policymaking, and increased domestic manufacturing to mitigate potential disruptions to health supplies.
Experts are raising concerns regarding the vulnerability of the UK’s health supply chains, particularly in relation to essential items such as antibiotics, vaccines, and diagnostic tests. A report from the Centre for Long-Term Resilience indicates that the country is currently “perilously vulnerable” to potential disruptions, emphasising the risks posed by geopolitical tensions and reliance on foreign manufacturers.
The report specifically points to the UK’s dependence on China for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) needed for antibiotics, notably the antibiotic gentamicin, which is crucial for treating various bacterial infections. The study highlights that all seven dosage forms of gentamicin available to NHS England are sourced from two suppliers located in the same city in China. This concentration raises concerns about the UK’s ability to secure access to the drug in the event of local disruptions, such as severe weather or geopolitical incidents that could lead to export bans.
Reflecting on the findings, Dr Cassidy Nelson, head of biosecurity policy at the Centre for Long-Term Resilience, stated: “The UK is perilously vulnerable to disruptions in the delivery of critical health supplies.” She also pointed out that there is a significant lack of cross-departmental visibility regarding pharmaceutical sourcing, which diminishes the Government’s ability to manage these risks effectively.
The report’s findings suggest that while the UK was fortunate during the Covid-19 pandemic not to face specific medicine shortages, the long-term improvements in supply chain resilience have “yet to materialise.” Some experts have warned that the UK may actually be in a weaker position to respond to biological threats than it was prior to the pandemic.
The Centre for Long-Term Resilience report outlines several recommendations aimed at enhancing resilience within the UK’s supply chains. It urges the creation of a national data-sharing platform for supply chain transparency and the introduction of mandates for market authors to disclose their dependency on API suppliers. Moreover, it recommends a “stockpiling taskforce” to monitor essential medicines and bolster local manufacturing capabilities.
Dr Paul-Enguerrand Fady, biosecurity policy manager at the same think tank, stressed the importance of cohesive policymaking to improve resilience in the face of biological risks. He noted that the Government has an opportunity to bolster pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and secure necessary investments through future industrial strategies.
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged that ongoing global supply challenges were inherited by the current Government but highlighted that measures are in place to reduce supply disruptions. These include access to substantial vaccine quantities in case of a pandemic and existing stockpiles of critical medical goods. The spokesperson also mentioned an investment of up to £520 million aimed at increasing domestic manufacturing of medicines and diagnostics while collaborating with the NHS and international partners to fortify supply chains.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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