Pharmaceuticals giants are testing the use of alternative routes into Britain to prevent drug shortages in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Hugo Fry, UK chief executive of Sanofi, said the French vaccine-maker was investigating plans to bring crucial medicines through the Essex port of Harwich instead of Dover. There are fears that customs delays at Dover, Europe’s busiest ferry port, could leave hospitals and pharmacies short of life-saving medicines if lorries are stuck in long queues. It comes after Matt Hancock, the health secretary, wrote to Britain’s pharmaceuticals manufacturers to update them on plans to stockpile drugs ahead of next March. Drugmakers have been asked to increase their supplies to six weeks above their normal stock levels.

Source: The Times December 16, 2018 00:09 UTC