Intended for healthcare professionals

Head To Head

Commentary: Patients shouldn’t have to worry about an unhealthy Brexit

BMJ 2018; 362 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k4022 (Published 26 September 2018) Cite this as: BMJ 2018;362:k4022

Linked head to head

Could Brexit harm the NHS?

  1. Jeremy Taylor, chief executive
  1. National Voices London, UK
  1. jeremy.taylor{at}nationalvoices.org.uk

Patients lack answers to too many questions about their healthcare after Brexit. That is not good enough, says Jeremy Taylor

Time is running out for negotiating a Brexit deal, and the possibility of the UK leaving the European Union without a deal is looming. What are the implications for health? For patients, there are four key questions.

Will I still get access to my drugs?

In the UK, we take the supply of drugs for granted. But the pills in our chemists and hospital pharmacies are there thanks to integrated supply chains, frictionless European borders, and seamless regulations. What happens if there is more friction in future? What if it results in extra costs and delays to the manufacturing, quality control, and transport of drugs? What if my vital medicine is impounded by customs officials or …

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