In August the government unveiled plans for a £25 million express freight deal to ensure the continuity of vital medical supplies following Brexit.
Medical freight following Brexit
The UK remains uncertain as to when precisely the country will leave the European Union, following a new law introduced that effectively stops the country from leaving with a ‘no deal’ and compelling the prime minister to seek a three-month extension if this is the case. Despite this, preparations must continue to ensure that necessities such as medicines, can continue to be delivered on a consistent basis.
This announcement follows worries that the UK would suffer from drugs shortages following its exit from the EU. With over three quarters of medicine distributed within the UK, important via Channel crossings, measures must be put into place to limit the impact that Brexit will have.
The new deal was announced by the Department for Health and Social Care, the freight deal will see small parcels of medicines and medical products delivered on a 24-hour basis, with larger packages and pallets being transported every two to four days. These will include both standard medicines, alongside temperature-controlled products.
Once a freight company has been chosen for the contract it will run for a period of twelve months, with further extensions considered following the year. Speaking of this deal Health Minister, Chris Skidmore, has said: “I want to ensure that when we leave the EU…all appropriate steps have been taken to ensure frontline services are fully prepared.”
As freight forwarding specialists, the team at Grace Overseas have been tirelessly preparing for Brexit, and the implications this will mean for both our and our clients’ services. We have recently explored how businesses can prepare for the forthcoming changes, to ensure that they can continue to import and export as efficiently as possible. Take a look at our Brexit ready blog here.
Want to learn more about how Brexit will impact your business? Contact our friendly team today to discuss.
