Medicines and medical goods that are at risk of shortage can be transported to the UK within days through a new international transport system, the Government has announced.

The International Express Freight Service has been launched to deliver products to the UK rapidly when a supplier’s own logistical arrangements are disrupted, to ensure patients can continue to access the treatments they need.

The IEFS is part of the Department of Health and Social Care’s National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR) Centre.

The service will aim to collect and deliver small parcels within 24 – 48 hours, and pallets or shipments within 2-4 working days, with specialised products with a controlled or regulated handling requirement fast-tracked within 24 hours.

Following an open procurement process, Kuehne+Nagel International will operate the new service.

Suppliers need to register before they can access the service (to register for the first time, use this link. To check a registration using existing credentials, use this link). They will also be responsible for payment of carriage and any additional services agreed in conjunction with product movements.