With Theresa May’s announcement of a snap election in earlier this month, the life sciences industry erupted into fiery discourse. With such a crucial decision coming at such a troubling time, debate has ignited principally around two issues essential to the heart of the industry: Brexit and the NHS.
Among the major players in the UK, perhaps one of the most vocal has been the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the face of the industry in the country. Following the original announcement on 18 April, the association responded with the statement: "The ABPI will be calling on all political parties to pledge to create an NHS that delivers improved access to the new medicines our companies research, develop and manufacture. The new Government must be decisive in making sure the UK keeps its position as a location of choice for the global pharmaceutical industry."
Now, to coincide with its annual conference on the 27 April, the ABPI has unveiled its 2017 General Election Manifesto Securing the Opportunity for UK Life Sciences by 2022, presenting it at the event.
The manifesto sets out three key principles for the next UK government to prioritise:
- Securing a world-class NHS for patients
- Securing global investment and jobs
- Securing a new relationship with the EU that prioritises patient and public health
The ABPI asserts that the UK is currently ranked sixth of the G7 nations for healthcare spending, and in light of an ageing population, this must be rectified. The association calls on the next government to raise NHS investment to reach the G7 average by the end of the next parliament. In addition, the ABPI wishes to see revamped NHS processes, including accelerated drug approval pathways and patient outcome assessment.
For the second tenet, the ABPI calls the implementation of "a new industrial strategy that cements the UK’s position as a leading global hub for the life science and pharmaceutical industry, attracting significant new international investment". To achieve this, the association asserts that funding for basic science must be increased to 3% of GDP spend on R&D by 2022, in addition to the installation of a slew of initiatives and investment which will improve global competitiveness in the UK.
Finally, the third principle calls for a relationship with the EU which has patient care at its core, primarily through a co-operative regulatory framework, free trade of medicines and supplies across borders, and access to funding for scientific collaboration.
While the manifesto certainly has the best interests of the life sciences industry at heart, it remains to be seen whether the UK’s next government will take adequate note. While May’s Brexit strategy namechecked the industry as one if its key drivers, the likelihood of a hard Brexit may disrupt the ABPI’s ideal outcome.
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