Statement from Health Minister Mike O'Brien on medicine supply

Minister for Health, Mike O'Brien said:

"For months I have been concerned about the potential impact on patients' health of a small number of medicines being sold abroad by speculators. It is unacceptable that people have had to wait longer than they should have to get their medication.

"I have made it very clear that it is a very few unscrupulous people that are putting profits before patients. Rather than selling drugs to NHS patients as they should, they are selling them abroad for greater profit.

"I am pleased that the different parts of the supply chain have come together to work with the Government to tackle this and the joint guidance we have already developed makes clear the legal and ethical duties on the supply chain as well as their consequences.

"The Government believes that this spirit of collaboration is the best way to further minimise the risks to patients. That is why the Secretary of State and I have called a summit in early March 2010 with all those organisations involved in the supply of medicines to better understand the issues involved and what might be done to address them. "

Posted Tuesday February 9^th 2010
By Department of Health