Diabetic prepared to die for Brexit

doug56hl

Apparently not.
NHS buys for the doses it needs. If it doesn't get full fat generators it doesn't get all the doses. And that may mean patients go without. So the alternative is to buy more doses than needed.

From the no deal brexit guidance from the British Nuclear Medicine Society, the UK Radiopharmacy Group and The Royal College of Radiologists:
If it is likely your generator will arrive later than practical for use on the day of delivery, consider ordering a higher activity generator for the first couple of weeks (one reference activity step higher) to allow for not using it on the usual first day of delivery. It may be possible to combine a higher activity generator with a request for it to be supplied the day prior to your usual delivery so in effect your usual eluted activities could be retained. A one day delay to delivery would reduce available activity by approximately 20%. This clearly needs to be funded

IronGiant

That's not so good, I agree.  But it doesn't make sense if the 66 days quoted is correct.  Perhaps it continuously generates Tc-99m from the moment it's loaded?.  Anyway, it's been a thought provoking read, thanks for bringing it to my attention

tapzilla2k

It is 66 hours, not 66 days.
2 weeks = 336 hours....

Everthing you want to know (and lots more) about Mo-99/Tc-99m Background and Study Task - Medical Isotope Production without Highly Enriched Uranium - NCBI Bookshelf
including this on the supply chain timings TABLE 3.4, Typical Process Times for Mo-99 and Tc-99m Supply Chains - Medical Isotope Production without Highly Enriched Uranium - NCBI Bookshelf

Also of note is that even without the issues of a no deal brexit, delays are fairly common
A representative of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) reported to the committee that it encounters an “adverse” Mo-99 cross-border shipping event once every 3 weeks on average. Such events include shipments being laid off at airports or delayed in customs. These adverse events often occur without notice. They disrupt Mo-99 delivery schedules and may delay patient care.

kav

Doh, I misread it as days, thanks. That completely changes things

weaviemx5

As for this question - I'm an asthmatic and no I'm not willing to die for Brexit. I don't particularly fancy slowly suffocating to the point where the lack of oxygen causes my lungs to cease working and my heart to stop. My main inhaler is made in Italy and France, while I can extend how long the inhalers last it would negatively impact my asthma control. Which is vital to avoid asthma attacks/death and hospital admissions. I was lucky earlier in the year that heavy doses of steroids and Antibiotics kept me out of hospital. All down to a particularly nasty bacterial infection.

For those who don't know what an asthma attack looks/sounds like -

kav

Given we are fortunate enough live in the first world, I doubt we're going to see a significant impact on the availability of medicine. Where the impact will be felt will be in our wallets. Any significant change to a process will incur costs, and there's no way the companies involved in the supply chain for medicines won't take full advantage of Brexit by passing on those costs to the UK.

SteakAndCake

It's not going to affect our wallets.

If you are asthmatic, your prescription cost will remain the same.

If you are diabetic, your prescriptions will continue to be free.

I doubt that short term measures to fly some drugs in will have a significant impact on pricing.

LM1405

I read  it as the proverbial “our” in the fact the the UK Government costs will go up, and as a side effect “we” will feel the impact of this through lack of funds elsewhere.

The cost of chartering a plane as a one off to fly in medication is comparatively small, how about doing that every day for 6 months (according to Yelowhammer estimates for transport disruption)?  Also, it’s pretty obvious that pharmaceutical vendors are likely to take advantage of the situation and increase the price.  

The fact that your prescription is free is ok for you, but pretty shortsighted.

kav

Yes, this is what I meant. Lack of funds elsewhere or an increase in taxation.

IronGiant

I got my flu shot yesterday. The pharmacist who did it told us that they are already seeing medicine shortages due to stockpiling and he and his colleagues believe it is inevitable there will be medicine shortage in the event of a no deal Brexit.