ABPI comment on medicine export bans

Following reports that the UK has banned exports of medicines that could be used to treat COVID-19 patients, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has released the following statement.

Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the ABPI says:

“Global supply chains are absolutely vital in ensuring that manufacturers can get medicines and vaccines to people who need them, wherever they are in the world.

"The UK Government is not restricting exports by manufacturers of any medicine or vaccine.

"Parallel exporting – where a wholesaler buys medicines meant for patients in one country and sell on for a higher price to another country, potentially aggravating supply problems – is a completely different issue. Limiting some parallel exporting during a pandemic is a sensible decision and one which has been taken by a number of countries, including in the EU.”