Drug firms warn chaotic Brexit could harm Europe's ability to contain 'Zika-style' epidemic

A GSK scientist works on vaccines for swine flu - Reuters

A chaotic Brexit could jeopardise Europe’s ability to contain a large scale epidemic such as the Zika virus, UK drugmakers have warned.

Trade bodies representing Britain’s £63bn life sciences sector have stepped up their warnings to Government about the public health risks posed by a disorderly withdrawal from the EU.

In a paper published by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the BioIndustry Association (BIA), the organisations argue safeguarding public health must be the “number one priority”.

The report, compiled with Office of Health Economics Consulting, warns of the potential for up to five-month delays in the sharing of important drug safety information such as adverse reactions to medicines across borders.

It also warns of likely increased medicine shortages if administrative burdens, customs delays and tariff measures are not reconciled.

The study was published to coincide with BIA chief executive Steve Bates giving evidence on the potential impacts of Brexit to MPs on the health select committee today.

Mr Bates told MPs: “This report highlights to negotiators on both sides of the channel the scale of the issue in safeguarding public health.

“With 82 million patient packs travelling between the UK and EU each month, it is vital that teams on both sides of the channel make patient safety a priority.”