US Tariffs and UK Medication Supplies

The UK Government have announced warnings that the US tariffs could disrupt the medicine supply chains to the UK, particularly in relation to the manufacture and distribution of medicines.

In response, I wrote to both the UK Government Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting MP, and the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Health, Neil Gray MSP, highlighting my concerns over the potential disruptions and asking both Governments what steps they are taking to ensure medication supplies across the UK are not impacted by the tariffs.

We have already seen the impact that months of ADHD medication shortages caused, many of my constituents experienced inconsistent treatment, or outright refusal of treatment as a result of the shortages. If the tariffs impact medication supplies even more widely, it will undoubtedly lead to many more people experiencing inadequate treatment. This is simply unacceptable, and could be life threatening. I urge both Governments to do all they can to ensure that people across the UK do not suffer as a result of Trump’s tariffs.