As Brexit uncertainty continues to dominate the headlines, how is the most politically unsettled period since 1945 impacting the pharmaceutical industry and people’s health?
The Story So Far
At the time of writing, the United Kingdom (UK) is on its third deadline to leave the European Union (EU). What was deemed to be “the easiest trade deal in human history1” is now looking ever increasingly unlikely; and is beginning to cause anguish for not only the pharmaceutical industry, but for the public that so heavily relies on its medicines.
Although the UK government has said it is “confident” about the supply of medicine and medical products2, some ministers have pointed out that they “cannot absolutely guarantee the supply of medicine […] in the event of a no-deal Brexit”. As reported by BBC News3, Scottish Brexit Secretary, Mike Russell, said that due to the heavy losses drug companies made when stockpiling medicines for the original EU departure date in March, they are “very reluctant to be involved in the deep way they were before”.
This has prompted UK health leaders to write to Boris Johnson, warning of the impact of a no-deal Brexit4. In the letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the 17 heads of various UK royal colleges and health charities stated that clinicians are “unable to reassure patients” that their health and care will not be affected, propagating that they have “significant concerns about shortages of medical supplies”.
An Anxious Public
It has been reported that concerns over Brexit have already begun to have an impact on people’s health and wellbeing. In a survey conducted by Pulse Today, over 40% of GPs said Brexit has increased anxiety-related conditions among their patients, stating that “increased anxiety among patients was mainly due to potential drug shortages”.
Brexit-related shortages in prescription medication have already been reported, as early as March this year, which was said, according to NHS Providers, to be a result of “stockpiling and price pressure as the Brexit deadline approaches”. It was said that up to 160 different drugs have seen shortages leading up to the report, with mental health drugs and those used to treat rarer conditions being amongst those reportedly affected.
Although the Department of Health has stated that there is “no evidence” the “small number of supply issues” were related to Brexit, drug shortages have been much more common over the past six months (Pulse today ref).
Dr Nick Bird, a GP who responded to the Pulse Today survey, said he had witnessed “more distress from lots of patients whose medication is suddenly unavailable – much more than I have ever known in nine years in general practice”.
Deal Or No Deal?
Like all things Brexit, the consequences of Britain leaving the EU, on both pharma and people’s health, is unknown; and a way forward to deal with its impact is unclear.
Drug companies are now reluctant to stockpile drugs as a no-deal contingency, due to the huge financial loses they endured when they originally did so back in March5. However, Health Minister Stephen Hammond has stated “we are working with industry and other stakeholders to continue robust no deal contingency planning for supply after 31 October – we are confident that if everyone does what they need to do, the supply of medicines and medical products should be uninterrupted”.
Nevertheless, to many people, Brexit is already having an impact, not just on drug supplies, but on people’s health. As to what the real impact on pharma will be like once the UK actually does leave – only time will tell.