New Delhi: The UK government has launched a public consultation to combat modern slavery in the National Health Service (NHS) supply chain, a UK government press release stated. The consultation, which began Thursday, seeks input on proposals that would legally require public entities procuring goods and services for the NHS to proactively identify and mitigate the risk of modern slavery.
A recent review found that more than 21% of NHS suppliers posed a high risk of modern slavery in their supply chains. Surgical instruments, gloves, gowns, uniforms, and face masks were identified as the products most likely to be linked to modern slavery practices. The government is proposing new measures that would mandate public bodies to actively identify and mitigate modern slavery risks. These measures would require public entities procuring goods and services for the NHS to collaborate with suppliers to identify risks and propose solutions. Failure to mitigate the risk of modern slavery in supply chains would result in public bodies violating the law.
The consultation, which began Thursday, seeks input on proposals that would prevent goods from being sourced from companies accused of exploiting their workforce.
“The NHS is a public service built on compassion and equality, values which are completely antithetical to the heinous evil of modern slavery,” said Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting. “These new measures will ensure vital checks are made and public bodies act to stamp out the crimes of slavery and human trafficking. This government will ensure the NHS is a leader in the fight against modern slavery,” he added.
The new regulations will apply to all public bodies that procure health-related goods and services, such as NHS trusts, integrated care boards, and local authorities. The consultation seeks views from public bodies, suppliers, trade associations, interest groups, patients, and the wider public by February 2025.
Jacqui Rock, Chief Commercial Officer, NHS England, emphasized the need to eliminate modern slavery from the NHS supply chain. “Modern slavery is insidious and needs to be eradicated from the NHS supply chain,” Rock said. “While our procurement follows the government’s standard selection questionnaire, which addresses modern slavery risk, there is much more to do. We have a responsibility to ensure a zero-tolerance policy to modern slavery — and the more stakeholders that respond to this consultation will help strengthen these measures and help us wipe out this crime in the NHS supply chain.”