Supply chain resilience

Downward pressure on pricing has forced supply chains to become ever more efficient and cost-conscious, stretching them across the globe and making the UK reliant on international trade routes. While the UK produces around 25% of the finished medicines the NHS uses, the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and their starting materials are sourced from Europe, India and China. China alone is estimated to supply 80% of the world's starting materials for APIs. In an era of geopolitical tension, greater diversity in sourcing would offer more security and underpin supply resilience.