The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has issued a response to comments made by Simon Stevens — chief executive of NHS England — during his interview on the Andrew Marr show earlier this month.
European relocation
Stevens was questioned about Brexit preparations and what contingency plans were being put in place should there be a no-deal scenario, particularly in relation to the supply of medicines to the UK.
In the interview, the head of England’s health service revealed that there has now been significant work into preparing for all potential outcomes of Brexit including that of a ‘no-deal’ scenario so that there is no disruption to medical supplies.
Responding to his comments, the ABPI, which has been working with companies to get a better understanding of the potential impact of the UK leaving the EU on the supply of medicines and with the government to ensure they are fully informed, issued the following statement:
“Between them, companies will have to spend hundreds of millions on contingency planning. Every month, 45 million packs of medicine go from the UK to Europe – and over 37 million packs come back the other way. Without clarity on customs arrangements, medicines regulation or whether there will be a transition period, this essential planning is taking priority over research and development. 500 million patients across Europe are dependent on us getting this right, whatever Brexit scenario occurs.
“The NHS and pharmaceutical companies are undertaking extensive planning for Brexit for all scenarios. We have been working closely with Government to make sure that they have all the information they need to put their plans in place so that the supply of medicines to patients it not interrupted.”
Key policies that should be considered as priority for the pharma industry and Brexit are specified by the ABPI as the following:
- Securing a transition period. This should be a single-step transition that adequately reflects the time needed by pharmaceutical companies to transition to a new framework.
- Securing co-operation with the EU on the regulation of medicines. This should achieve alignment between the UK and EU regulatory framework, to deliver proportionate, robust and effective regulation of medicines in the UK.
- Securing the ability to freely trade and move medicines and pharmaceutical supplies across borders. This should be ‘frictionless’ and include access to free trade agreements already in place between third countries and the EU.
- Securing access to the best talent. This should achieve an immigration system which allows global pharmaceutical companies to attract and transfer talented and skilled students, scientists and other professionals from around the world.
- Securing predictable access to funding and collaboration for scientific research. This should achieve agreements on existing and future funding and collaboration opportunities such as Horizon 2020 (and its successor), including the Innovative Medicines Initiative. UK life science entrepreneurs should also be able to access the European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund.