Signal About a third of England's generic medicines made in India

Summary

The report describes the UK's medical supply chains as global and complex. Only about 20-25% of generic medicines prescribed in England are made in the UK, while around a third are produced in India. The report sees disruption as a particular concern for critical sectors such as health and defence. It also flags that supply chains are heavily interconnected through key logistics hubs like the Suez and Panama canals, so a disruption in one place can spread across the whole network. The report suggests that sourcing materials and services within the UK and moving towards a circular economy could reduce reliance on international markets and create jobs. The Department for Business and Trade's Critical Imports and Supply Chains Strategy aims to make such critical supply chains more resilient.