29.01.18
Brexit could affect thousands of patients as access to medicines reduce
Brexit could have “serious implications” for patients’ access to medicines, the Brexit Health Alliance has warned.
In a paper published today, the alliance has called on negotiators on both sides of the table to put patients first.
It has also asked for guarantees to be made with regards to patient safety and public health through aligning the UK with the EU’s regulations.
The report, ‘Brexit and the impact on patient access to medicines and medical technologies,’ argues that if a deal is not reached, the supply of medicines and medical technologies could be disrupted, with some treatments becoming unavailable to British patients.
It estimates that despite bilateral trade agreements with the EU, Switzerland gains access to new medicines around 157 days later than other countries in the Union.
This is compared to countries like Australia and Canada, which see new medicines enter the market around six to 12 months later than the EU or the USA.
The alliance claims that up to 120,000 prostate cancer patients throughout Europe could be affected if Brexit negotiations fail to find a solution for cooperation between the UK and the EU following the UK’s exit from Europe, with a UK manufactured drug used across Europe risking supply disruption if no deal is reached.
Future research could also be affected, with around 750 UK-led clinical trials including multiple EU member states at risk if no plan is put in place to manage them following Brexit.
Niall Dickson, co-chair of the Brexit Health Alliance, said: “It is critical that UK and EU patients do not lose out on the best treatments and medical devices as the UK leaves the EU.
“We want to make sure that patients continue to benefit from early access to new health technologies and cutting-edge medicines, and that includes being able to take part in international clinical trials.”
He also explained that patients need “maximum cooperation and alignment” between the EU and UK when it comes to the regulation of medicines and medical devices.
“Let’s put patients first - both the UK Government and European Commission must make this cooperation a priority in the interests of UK and EU patients,” he added.
Aisling Burnand, chief executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said that it is “vital” that patients’ health is prioritised in the second phase of negotiations.
“If not, patients in the UK and the EU could face delays in accessing potentially life-saving treatments,” she argued.
“Officials on both sides of the negotiating table must have patients’ best interests at heart and ensure safety considerations are paramount.”
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