Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Accepted
Future pandemic stockpiling plans remain undecided despite past domestic PPE supply chain limitations.
Recommendation
In our June 2022 report on the Department’s 2020–21 Annual Report and Accounts we noted the lack of planning for how big a PPE stockpile needed to be, and also the need to build greater resilience into the supply chain.20 We asked the Department again about the need and its future plans for stockpiling items that may be required in the event of a future pandemic. The Department stated there are a number of decisions yet to be made regarding what is included in a stockpile for future pandemics.21 It said that the stockpile held was invaluable for the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.22 However, one of its big limitations was the ability to create domestic supply and it advised us that it is working on strengthening domestic PPE supply chains.23 The Department confirmed that, at the time we took evidence in March, it had at least four months’ worth of PPE, particularly inventory, in its stockpiles.24 18 DHSC 2021–22 ARA, page 364 19 Q 82 20 Committee of Public Accounts, Department of Health and Social Care 2020–21 Annual Report and Accounts, Sixth Report of Session 2022–23, HC 253, 10 June 2022 21 Q 101 22 Q 117 23 Q 117 24 Q 80 Department of Health and Social Care 2021–22 Annual Report and Accounts 11 2 UKHSA
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and details a range of specific actions for building resilience, including a clinical countermeasure programme, a UK-Moderna partnership for vaccine manufacturing, and ongoing work with SCCL on PPE volumes, long-term resilience, and stock rotation.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 The department has in place a clinical countermeasure programme of some appropriate medicines and consumables to respond to a range of scenarios, for example vaccines (including an Advance Purchase Agreement to guarantee access to a pandemic specific influenza vaccine), and therapeutics, such as antivirals. In addition, the new UK- Moderna strategic partnership is setting up research and development and manufacturing facilities in the UK with the capacity to produce up to 250 million vaccines per year in the event of a pandemic. 2.3 The department is working closely with SCCL on the necessary volumes of PPE that are needed to provide resilience to future pandemics and is preparing advice on both short- term procurements and longer-term resilience. The department will continue to refine its approach over time based on the latest information available. To provide additional resilience and value for money, in April 2023 the department signed a service level agreement with SCCL, to support rotation of stockpiled product into business as usual wherever possible. 2.4 The department is committed to learning lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and has sought, and continue to consider, expert advice on products (including PPE, medicines and vaccines) that should be held, or otherwise contracted for, to support the UK’s preparedness for future pandemic and emerging infectious disease threats. An enhanced approach to clinical countermeasures is one aspect of the department’s wider, flexible pandemic response plans, which are kept under review and regularly updated to reflect the latest scientific information, lessons learned from exercises and our response to emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic.