The Association of The British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has launched a General Election 2020 Manifesto for Medicine.
ABPI employs over 63,000 people and invests £4.3bn in UK research and development, the result of which is 7,000 new medicines currently being researched and developed.
Their aim for the UK to be the best place in the world to research develop and use medicines of the future, has been supported by the manifesto ahead of the upcoming general election.
The industry body has urged the next government to prioritise patients and health security regarding the uncertain UK and EU relationship through a good EU deal, highlighting how the EU membership has shaped the life sciences sector.
The association have called on government to invest 2.4% of GDP in research and development by 2027, by committing to this investment they hope to build a thriving environment for medicine and vaccine discovery.
Other suggestions from ABPI include investing in new medicines, evolving NICE, increasing the number of clinical trials, implementing a new vaccines strategy and valuing patients’ lives more than ever before.
A big focus is placed on students and apprenticeships and the need for a new ‘Life Sciences Skills Fund’ to help close the UK skills gaps in areas such as genomics, immunology, bioinformatics and clinical pharmacology.
ABPI have outlined their commitment to making an NHS that is ‘fit for the future’, ensuring that patients get access to the latest medicines and allowing the industry to embrace cutting edge technology to provide world-class standards of care and disease prevention.
Mike Thompson, Chief Executive of the ABPI, said:
“The next Government will shape one of our country’s most valuable assets: an incredible pharmaceutical industry that employs tens of thousands and invests billions in research.
“We don’t just want NHS patients to get the latest breakthroughs; we want the UK to continue being home to the science that makes them possible, with all the global investment that comes with it.”
