Brexit could disrupt medical supplies

Patients could find that supplies of their medicines will be disrupted when the UK leaves the EU,  according to the Brexit Health Alliance in a briefing paper published this week, which is calling on both sides to put patients first.

The Alliance brings together the NHS, medical research, industry, patients and public health organisations to safeguard the interests of patients and the healthcare and research they rely on.

Titled “Brexit and the impact on patient access to medicines and medical technologies”, it warns that unless a deal is reached medicines and medical technologies could  be delayed or even become unavailable to patients.

In an example, the Brexit Health Alliance is warning that up to 120,000 prostate cancer patients throughout Europe could be affected if Brexit negotiations fail to find a solution for future cooperation between the UK and the EU on regulation and trade of medicines and medical devices.

A prostate cancer medicine, made in a highly sophisticated process in the UK and used in 80 countries including all of Europe, is one of many medicines that risks supply disruption from a “no deal” scenario.

The future of research into new medicines and medical technologies could also be affected. Around 750 UK-led clinical trials including multiple EU member states could be at risk if there is no plan on how to approve and manage these multi-national trials with European partners after March 2019.

The aim of the Brexit Health Alliance is to secure a cooperation agreement between the UK and the EU on regulation of medicines and medical devices.