ABPI Chief urges rapid Brexit agreement and reveals ‘No Deal’ preparations
The chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has told the House of Commons DExEU Select Committee how they are preparing for a ‘No Deal’ Brexit, and said it is vital for both sides to rapidly agree the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, as well as the future relationship.
Mike Thompson explained that pharmaceutical companies are doing everything in their power, including spending hundreds of millions of pounds, increasing stocks of medicine in the UK and duplicating testing in the EU, to avoid disruption to the supply of medicines if the UK were to leave the bloc without an agreement.
Mr. Thompson also said:
- 45 million packs of medicines move from the UK to the EU every month, and 37 million packs move the other way. It is not in the interest of patients, either in the UK or in the EU, to have ‘no deal’.
- While the industry is ding everything in its power to prevent avoid delays and disruption, there are situations completely out of our control, which can only be fixed by a UK/EU deal on the future of medicines
- Stockpiling alone is not going to guarantee supply in the event of a ‘no deal’ which is why we urgently need a deal.
- There are medicines which simply can’t be stockpiled due to temperature control, short shelf life or inability to travel.
- It is vital that both sides rapidly agree the terms of the UK’s withdrawal and a future relationship based on long-term cooperation on the regulation, trade and supply of medicines to protect public health, manage medicines safety and control infectious diseases throughout Europe.
- A Brexit deal is vital for maintaining skills, resources and investment into UK clinical trials. Clinical trials benefit thousands of patients for whom no other treatment exists and are lucrative for the NHS. Losing these trials would set the UK back.
The ABPI represents large, medium and small pharmaceutical companies in the UK, and its members supply more than 80% of all branded medicines used by the NHS.