What steps is the Minister taking to ensure a robust supply of hydroxychloroquine to patients reliant on that medication to manage: lupus; scleroderma; rheumatoid arthritis and other serious autoimmune rheumatic conditions, during the coronavirus pandemic?
I not aware of any problems with the supply of hydroxychloroquine in the UK at present.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has advised prescribers that hydroxychloroquine must not be used for treatment of COVID-19 outside clinical trials, and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has advised pharmacists that they should not dispense private prescriptions for this medicine unless it is for a patient using it for lupus or other pre-existing conditions. Arrangements are in place for wholesalers to alert the UK Government to unusual ordering patterns for all medicines and in particular those which may be affected by COVID-19.
Whilst hydroxychloroquine has been suggested as a potential treatment for COVID-19, it is not licensed to treat this disease. A UK clinical trial called RECOVERY has started which will involve some patients being treated with hydroxychloroquine but stock for this trial is not coming from the normal supply chain so usual stocks should not be affected. Welsh patients are taking part in this trial.