Paul Fleming, technical director of the BGMA, commented on the Access to Medicines Report.

"We welcome the call in the Access to Medicine Foundation report for sustainable long term solutions to improve the security of antibiotics supply. We agree that in recent years medicines supply chains have become more global and complex, with fewer suppliers for many antibiotic active ingredients and key intermediates. This increases the risk of shortages. As stated in the report, more incentives for industry to invest in R&D for new classes of antibiotics are needed. 

"This also applies to existing generic antibiotics where a more attractive economic environment, less focused on driving down medicine costs through tendering, would encourage new entrants and help to retain existing manufacturers. This would make supply chains more robust with alternative supply options and also protect affordability by the competition between producers. The report includes several best practice examples from generic manufacturers and as BGMA we work closely with the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care to help improve processes for identifying risks of shortages in UK. The soon to be implemented Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Act will strengthen the UK system further, particularly in providing more notice of potential supply disruptions."