The government has revealed plans to spend £3 million to ensure medicines can be transported to the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The Department of Health and Social Care says it will hire an "express freight service" to transport key medicines, blood and transplant tissues.
The government plans to leave the EU on 31 October with or without a deal, and many analysts believe a deal to secure a freight service must be agreed by 1 September.
Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington told Parliament: "This will be an urgent contingency measure for products requiring urgent delivery, within a 24-48 hour timeframe, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal."
"Government will only pay for capacity as and when it is needed and used," he added.
Although not confirmed, it is understood that larger pharmaceutical companies have their own plans in place, but smaller ones will require assistance.
