SHORTAGES of medicines "may occur" in the wake of a no-deal Brexit but people should not stockpile drugs, Scotland's chief medical officer has warned.
Dr Catherine Calderwood said members of the public - as well as GPs, pharmacies and hospitals - should not try to build up their own supply of medication.
She issued the advice in a letter sent to NHS board chief executives, local authority leaders and the leaders of integration authorities - which bring health and care services together.
Read more: DNA research offers hope for sepsis treatment
Dr Calderwood sent the letter along with the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Rose Marie Parr to outline efforts from the Scottish Government together with other administrations to deal with any shortfall in drugs that may arise.
"Additional steps have now been taken to prepare for the risk that a no-deal exit will lead to more shortages than are normally experienced," they said.
Read more: Three bottles of wine a week 'like 23 cigarettes' for female cancer risk
The Chief Medical Officer and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer stressed pharmaceutical firms had built up their own stockpiles of some medicines, adding that across the UK had built up a supply of some medical devices.
"Arrangements are also being made to transport into the UK, including by air, items that cannot be stockpiled," they said.
The letter also stressed if Brexit led to delays of goods at the UK border "medical supplies will be given priority for entry into the UK".
They stated: "Members of the public, GPs, community pharmacies and hospitals should not stockpile.
"Shortages may occur but the NHS will manage the situation and if necessary provide suitable alternatives or other treatment while supply is restored to normal levels."
The Chief Medical Officer and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer added: "Prescribers do not need to anything new at this moment in time.
"Members of the public, GPs, community pharmacies and hospitals should not stockpile medicines."
Despite this Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said: "My constituents are worried that they will not get their medicine."
He added: "Any Brexit will be bad for our NHS, whether it be by crashing out without a deal or cutting off the precious supply of European workers who support patients in our health service.
"This has to go back to the people for a People's Vote, lives are at stake."
Dr Lewis Morrison, chair of BMA's Scottish Council, said: "The fact that action is being taken to prepare for any potential shortages of medicine is welcome, however it is simply unbelievable and, frankly, totally unacceptable that it has even come to this.
"It is yet another example of the devastating impact Brexit will have on our healthcare system. While it is important plans like this are made, it is hard to be reassured given the very substantial amount of confusion and uncertainty that remain over many aspects of Brexit."
Scottish Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, Monica Lennon MSP, said:
"No one voted in the EU referendum for a medicines emergency, but that is what we are in danger of being dragged into by the Conservative Party.
"People across the country will be alarmed to learn the UK and Scottish governments are anticipating shortages of specific medicines in the event of a no deal Brexit.
"The Tories are taking our country and our NHS to the brink.
"Theresa May must take no deal formally off the table and put our country before her party."
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel