Insulin supplies

[Somewhereovertheroad]

No insulin is made in the UK. A no deal Brexit threatens the supply of insulin according to Medicines Regulator Sir Michael Rawlings.

I really despair about where all of this is going to end up.

Presumably planning will be put in place but they would need to stop messing and sort themselves out.

This is interesting
www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-latest-insulin-medical-supply-stockpiling-goods-eu-withdrawal-a8467481.html

I'm insulin dependent and terrified

@Ballora I cannot believe they are voluntarily putting people in this position.

It's beyond my comprehension.

Theresa May is an insulin dependent diabetic.

I bet she will still manage to get supplies consistently

This is total scaremongering. Honestly there will be insulin available, novordisk have tweeted about this and do not anticipate supply issues. I have an insulin dependant dc and am not panicking.

The issue with supply will be if people start trying to stockpile and that’s what a lot of stuff in the media seems to be encouraging.

I meant novo nordisk

I said to my diabetic other half we need to stockpile some the other week. This of course will add to the problem but you know, keeps him alive and all that....

I hope your practice monitor how much insulin you order so you can’t stockpile. Insulin keeps lots of people alive including the pm so pretty sure she will ensure supply of it is a priority.

This isn't real. We make insulin in the UK.

Google the manufacturers.

Insulin is a pretty obvious one to get sorted but what about the more obscure life saving medications? Not to mention blood products, any one read up of the hepatitis, HIV/AIDS scandal from American blood products?

This goverment doesn't care about the one in five Brits who have a disability they have proved that time and time again. It's not time for panicking but it is time for planning, nagging the hell out of local MPs to let them know disabled and sick people matter.

As @Mrscampbellblackreturns said the issue will come from people panicking and stockpiling their personal supplies.

Local distributors will stockpile enough to get through any disruption to make a smooth transition period.

It makes no sense at all for other companies to stop exporting to us. Why would they want to lose so much custom. At worst we will pay import charges as a country not on an individual level.

I have a diabetic child and am not worried at all and will continue to order insulin on the basis of what he needs.

@MissDai5y This isn't real. We make insulin in the UK

Wockhardt UK produces animal-based insulin at its site in Wrexham. They estimate that their products are used by about 1,500 to 2,000 patients a year.
That’s less than half of one percent of the 421,000 people who rely on insulin in the UK . So where does everyone else get theirs from?

Sanofi - Frankfurt; no UK production
Novo Nordisk - Denmark and France; no UK production
Lilly - No UK production.

miss off the top of my head I think the UK makes 3% of its insulin needs....so that's the PM's sorted but what about everyone else?

Google distributors vs manufacturers.

Insulin has a short shelf life it's no use stockpiling???

Hava cross post you did it better!

Recent thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/3320894-insulin

Big pharma loves to sell to NHS - they are very valuable contracts. There are many things to worry about icw Brexit, but assuming competence in NHS drugs procurement (given existing British expertise in the logistics of moving drugs) this isn't one of them.

If NHS drugs procurement isn't of a good standard, that's not a Brexit problem per se. Rather Brexit showing up shortcomings which shouid not have been there in the first place.

Article explaining the potential problem from a patient perspective www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-latest-insulin-medical-supply-stockpiling-goods-eu-withdrawal-a8467481.html

There are major insulin manufacturers (to FDA standards) in US who wouid be happy to sell to UK, if EU countries withdraw.

Random person on t'internet tells us not to worry as "plenty of insulin is made in the UK. Mr Google says so. Pesky experts are wrong. Mr Google is right"

https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-are-insulin-supplies-really-at-risk-from-a-no-deal-brexit

Maybe it's someone speaking in behalf of Mrs May because she's going to make sure she'd get some of the miniscule supply that is made in the UK. Who cares about the other 99% of T1 Diabetics?

Novorapid insulin here. Will investigate where it comes from.

Local distributors will stockpile enough to get through any disruption to make a smooth transition period

This keeps getting repeated, for food, medicines (not just insulin), car parts, isotopes etc. It's simply not feasible.

Who will be stockpiling?

Not the government, as Raab has said it is not an issue for the government, but for industries.
Not the industries - they cannot afford to finance, secure and insure months worth of stocks.

Where will items be stockpiled?
There are not sufficient temperature-controlled warehouses for stockpiling perishable food and medicines for more than a few days of buffer stock.
For non-perishables, vast areas of the UK would need to be turned into warehousing - by March. Who is going to pay for this and how will it be achieved in a matter of months?

How long should the stockpile last?
A household can possibly stock up with about a month's worth of food (if they can afford it and have the space). What if the 'smooth transition period' lasts for 6 months? Or a year? Where does the food and medicine come from after the end of April once the stockpile has been used up. A stockpile doesn't solve the issue, it just delays the day when the products run out if no more goods are coming in.

I'm on apidra and there was a shortage a couple of years back.

I'll be honest I'm a little bit worried. I hate feeling vulnerable.
I'm pretty sure my pump supplies come from Europe too....

If you can user channel your worry, share your concerns with loved ones and do what you can to protect yourself. I'm a full time carer to my DP who is on multiple meds, I am scared shitless secretly but I'm focusing on doing what I can.....nagging (thats petitions, MP contacting, etc..)

Bloke who wrote the independent article is going share how to obtain insulin if there's a shortage

His twitter is here mobile.twitter.com/JimMooreJourno

@MoggyP There are major insulin manufacturers (to FDA standards) in US who would be happy to sell to UK, if EU countries withdraw

1. the major manufacturers in the US are the same 3 that already supply almost all of the UK's insulin; Novo Nordisk, Lilly and Sanofi.

2. they cannot sell US-produced products in the UK unless there is a certification system and process in place - the UK is withdrawing from the EU certification system with nothing in place to replace it.

and of course you know that it is the UK that is withdrawing from the EU, not the EU countries that are withdrawing

Big pharma loves to sell to NHS - they are very valuable contracts. There are many things to worry about icw Brexit, but assuming competence in NHS drugs procurement (given existing British expertise in the logistics of moving drugs)

You are incredibly naive. Have you seen the latest short supply / manufacturer cannot supply list?