EU countries and UK face drug shortages

The results of a recently published study titled "The Future of Healthcare After Brexit" conducted by the UK's Nuffield Trust show that patients in the European Union (EU) and the UK are suffering from shortages of many important drugs such as antibiotics and epilepsy medications.

Mr. Mark Dayan, an expert at the research and consulting organization Nuffield Trust, said that the UK's exit from the European Union caused the UK to encounter a number of problems, namely that goods could no longer flow smoothly across the border with the EU.

Brexit also means that the UK will no longer benefit from the EU’s measures to address drug shortages. Earlier this year, the EU launched a critical medicines alliance to address shortages of essential medicines, diversify drug supplies and ensure equitable access to medicines across member states.

Y te.jpg — Brexit could worsen drug shortages, says Nuffield Trust report. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Paul Rees, chief executive of the National Pharmaceutical Association, said that drug shortages were becoming more widespread and unacceptable in any modern health system. He said that shortages of medicines posed a real and present danger to patients who relied on medicines to keep them healthy.

However, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said the government had acted promptly to ensure drug shortages were dealt with quickly and to minimise the impact of disruptions to drug supplies on patients.

PEARL

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