Patients may suffer without post-Brexit deal

12 Mar 2018

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow has welcomed a report by the Brexit Health Alliance which sets out a range of potential problems for patients and staff unless there is a new partnership on science and research between the EU and the UK after Brexit.

The new briefing document “Patient Access to Medical Research” raises the key issues that must be addressed in the future negotiations between the UK and EU in relation to future medical research, including:

– Will the UK be able receive from/contribute to EU funding programmes and participate fully in collaborative opportunities to advance the discovery and understanding of diseases and ill-health across Europe?

– Will those involved in medical research, including healthcare professionals, technicians and patients, be able to travel and work across the EU as freely as they do now ?

– Will patients across Europe and the UK continue to benefit from pan-European clinical trials which involve the UK? Will UK patients be able to benefit as quickly from new drugs and treatments if the UK is not fully aligned with EU rules regulating medical research, medicines and medical devices?

Commenting on the publication of the report, College President, Professor David Galloway said:

“Our College remains concerned that without a positive deal between the UK Government and the EU following Brexit, both patients and staff will suffer. That’s why we welcome this timely report by the Brexit Health Alliance, which highlights the particular challenges faced by the medical research sector.

“It’s now absolutely imperative that we get a final Brexit deal which does no harm to the NHS, its staff, but most importantly our patients.”

Category: Wellbeing