Lords Public Services Committee holds first evidence session of inquiry into England’s medicine supply issues

On Wednesday 15 October, the House of Lords Public Services Committee will hold the first evidence session of its inquiry into medicine supply issues in England. The inquiry was launched in August and this first session will examine the medicine supply chain. It will also consider the causes of shortages and the policies and processes across the supply chain which seek to detect, address and prevent them.

The session will start at 11:00am and can be watched live or on demand at Parliament TV or attend in person in Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster.

Giving evidence will be:

• Dr Keith Ridge CBE, former Chief Pharmacist of England and Wales;
• Dr Paul-Enguarrand Fady, Centre for Long Term Resilience; and
• Dr Emilia Vann Yaroson, Operations and Supply Chain Management, University of Sheffield.

Questions will include:

• What are the key risks to the supply of medicines to the UK?
• How do medicine shortages currently affect patients, and what is the current level of risk patients face?
• How effective are current policies across the supply chain (from manufacturer to NHS to pharmacies) at preventing or responding to medicine supply issues in the UK?
• How far could the UK effectively reshore or nearshore its medicine supply chain?
• What recommendations should this Committee make to the Government?