European Union proposals which will see the bloc horde vaccines, antibiotics and painkillers risk leaving the UK out in the cold, medical experts have warned.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), responsible for the evaluation and supervision of pharmaceutical products within the EU, is aiming to guarantee access with the introduction of a new system whereby all members of the EU27 work together to ensure they have adequate supplies.
However, experts have warned such an approach has serious implications for Britain, which is currently experiencing major shortages of medicines including treatments for type 2 diabetes, motor neurone disease and cancer.
Mark Dayan, Brexit programme lead at the Nuffield Trust health think tank, told the Guardian: “There is a real risk that measures in such a large neighbour, which is now a separate market due to Brexit, will leave the UK behind in the queue when shortages strike.
“The EU has been scoping out buying more medicine jointly, starting with action on antibiotics next winter.”
Such an approach risked “shutting UK purchasers out” in certain scenarios, Mr Dayan suggested.
He said: “This would risk worsening shortages from a starting point where they are already exceptionally severe for the UK and other countries, with a mounting impact in terms of costs and wasted time for the NHS, and in terms of patients struggling to get what their doctors have said they need.”
Pharmaceutical trade expert Dr Andrew Hill added: “Europe is securing access to key drugs and vaccines as a single region, with huge influence and buying power.
“As a result of Brexit the UK is now isolated from this system, so our drug supplies could be at risk in the future.”
Mark Samuels, the chief executive of the British Generic Manufacturers Association, said without a concerted strategy to boost the production of generic drugs – which make up most of the medication used by the NHS – “we will see the supply problems become even worse”, given the EU’s concerted action to ensure its own supplies”.
However, David Watson, director of patient access at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, was confident there were safeguards in place.
He explained: “We recognise that, for a wide range of reasons, shortages do happen, and that we need to continue to work across borders to prevent and manage them for patients. We have no reason to think that the EU’s latest policies will adversely impact this ongoing challenge.
“The UK has its own well-rehearsed procedures in place to safeguard essential medicine stocks, working with companies.”
In a paper published last month entitled Availability of critical medicines, the agency said: “EMA, HMA and the European Commission are taking important steps to avoid shortages of antibiotic medicines for European patients, via the Executive Steering Group on Shortages and Safety of Medicinal Products (MSSG).
“This followed a surge in respiratory infections across the EU in winter 2022-23, which led to an increased demand for antibiotics such as amoxicillin (alone and in combination with clavulanic acid), especially for use in children.”
The EMA added: “The EU (Union) list of critical medicines enables EMA, the European Commission and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (EMA) to work together to ensure they can take proactive measures to avoid medicine shortages.
“It contains human medicines whose continued supply is considered a priority in the EU, to avoid serious harm to patients and help healthcare systems function.
“Medicines on this list will be prioritised for EU-wide actions to strengthen their supply chains and minimise the risk of supply disruptions.”
