‘Hard’ Brexit could delay new drugs for UK, says report

Stephen Dorrell, the former UK health minister, has warned in a report for Public Policy Projects that a “hard Brexit” deal could affect Britain’s access to new drugs.

According to British newspaper The Guardian yesterday, November 2, Dorrell said: “Alongside the motor industry and financial services, the life science sector is an essential British interest which must be a priority for ministers in their Brexit negotiations.”

Public Policy Projects describes itself as a “forum for debating the big issues in health and care”.

As reported by  The Guardian, the Public Policy Projects report also warns that patients’, taxpayers’ and drug makers’ benefits could be lost, delaying important new drugs coming onto the UK market.

The UK may no longer have access to the single market if it proceeds with a ‘hard Brexit’, although there is no strict definition of the term.

Dorrell added: “Science and science-based industry is a global activity and we face a simple choice: we either participate in full in that global scientific community or we prejudice a key British national interest.”

Dorrell’s comments came ahead of a blow to the government’s plan to invoke article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty without consulting parliament.

Today, November 3, the English High Court ruled that parliamentary approval is needed to trigger article 50, which kicks of a two-year negotiating period with EU member states.

The life sciences industry reportedly contributes £60 billion ($65 billion) a year to the UK economy.