September 20, 2019

No Deal Brexit: are we facing serious medical shortages?

Jacob Rees-Mogg recently apologised to Dr David Nicholl after comparing him to Andrew Wakefield for suggesting that a No Deal Brexit would result in deaths because of medical shortages. In every media discussion of No Deal people raise the spectre of patients unable to access lifesaving medicines and anecdotal evidence suggests that some patients are already stockpiling their drugs. Meanwhile Government representatives reassure us that preparations are in place and that leaked documents pointing to medical shortages are out of date.

So where does the truth lie? What preparations are in place and what is left to be done? Should patients be reassured or is it sensible to stockpile because of the level of uncertainty?

The UK life sciences community campaigned vigorously against Brexit in the referendum, but are now actively involved in preparations for a no deal. As such they are a rare neutral voice on this issue and will brief journalists and answer the questions they can about the state of preparedness. 

Speakers included:

Steve Bates, CEO, UK Bioindustry Association (BIA)

Mike Thompson, CEO, The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)

Alan Boyd, Academy of the Medical Royal Colleges (AOMRC), Immediate Past President of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine

Aisling Burnand, Chief Executive, Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)