BAPW: Health sector cooperation necessary to combat flu pandemics

A new British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (BAPW) report has called for improved cooperation across the medicine supply chain in order to cope better with the eventuality of a future influenza pandemic.

Responding to the Department of Health's new consultation on the UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy, the organisation has called on the government to work closely with healthcare sector stakeholders to manage future outbreaks.

It suggested that a consignment agreement could be reached with BAPW wholesalers, which would permit the government to rent medicine storage space in wholesaler depots in order to improve access to treatments.

The report also called for the creation of a national framework and strategy to increase clarity over best practice in specific situations.

Martin Sawer, BAPW's executive director, said: "We … are confident that these measures would help safeguard the universal and impartial supply of medicines to patients across the UK in future outbreaks."

According to Health Protection Agency figures, a total of 602 people died in the UK during the bout of seasonal flu last winter.