§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been given to(a) pharmacists and (b) primary care trusts to ensure that biological drugs are kept within recognised safe temperatures during storage and transport to patients. [78491]
§ Ms BlearsThe Medicines Control Agency (MCA), an executive agency of the Department of Health, regulates medicinal products for human use in the United Kingdom on behalf of the UK Licensing Authority.
UK legislation places an obligation on licensed manufacturers, distributors and importers of medicinal products to exercise control over the distribution chain to ensure that the medicinal products are handled, stored and distributed under the necessary conditions to avoid deterioration of the products.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's code of ethics and standards and practice guidance provides guidance to UK registered pharmacists on the storage of medicines under controlled temperatures.
§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that biological drugs brought into the UK by parallel importers maintain their temperature integrity during transport. [78490]
§ Ms BlearsUnited Kingdom legislation places an obligation on licensed distributors and importers of medicinal products to exercise control over the distribution chain, to ensure that the medicinal products are handled, stored and distributed under the necessary conditions to avoid deterioration of the products
Inspectors from the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) inspect parallel importers in the UK at regular intervals. The inspectors review records relating to the maintenance of temperature integrity during transportation of the imported products to ensure that they have not been exposed to unacceptable conditions.