UK Pharma Industry Emphasizes Need to Avoid a ‘No-Deal’ Brexit

In response to the United Kingdom’s prime minister delaying the vote on Brexit, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has released a statement emphasizing the need to avoid a ‘no-deal’ situation.

In the Dec. 10, 2018 statement, chief executive of the ABPI, Mike Thompson, stated, “The focus of pharmaceutical companies is on making sure that medicines and vaccines get to patients whatever the Brexit outcome. We are working as closely as possible with government on ‘no-deal’ planning and continue to look for further guidance on how medicines will be prioritized as new supply routes are put in place.

“But we reiterate that a ‘no-deal’ Brexit would present very serious challenges and this must be avoided. Politicians need to find a way through the current impasse and reassure patients that medicines will not be delayed or disrupted come March 2019.”

This response comes just days after the industry highlighted reactions to the latest medicines supply contingency plans that were released by government on Dec. 7, 2018.

“Pharmaceutical companies continue to do everything in their power to make sure that patients get access to medicines whatever the Brexit scenario,” added Thompson. “This includes duplicating processes, changing supply routes and stockpiling medicines in line with the government’s guidance. However, we have been clear that there are things which are out of our control.

“Today’s update on potential border delays for six months in a ‘no-deal’ scenario is stark. Stockpiling more medicines is not the solution to this problem.

“While we welcome the Secretary of State’s intention to prioritize the flow of medicines and vaccines, we need the detail. With just 16 weeks until the UK leaves the EU, we need the government to take immediate action to open up alternative supply routes between the UK and Europe and tell companies so that they can make plans.”

Source: ABPI