Cancer patients must be protected even if Britain fails to get a Brexit deal, drug firm AstraZeneca urges
The drugs giant is preparing for a ‘No Deal’ to ensure vital medicines continue to reach patients in the UK and EU
EUROCRATS could deprive patients across the Continent of cancer drugs unless they strike a Brexit deal with the UK, bosses claim.
Drugs giant AstraZeneca warned a ‘No Deal’ could cause huge “delivery problems” for vital medicines made at its UK facilities.
The Anglo-Swedish firm is one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical firms – producing drugs for cancer, heart and lung problems. The warning comes with Theresa May’s Cabinet Ministers blasting Brussels for their “intransigence” over Brexit talks and refusal to discuss new trading arrangements.
An AstraZeneca spokesman told the Sun: “We’ve been working hard for two years to make sure that we can still supply our medicines to UK and EU patients in a hard Brexit or no-deal situation. We urge UK government and the EU to make sure patients can get their medicines in every Brexit scenario.”
Speaking to the Dutch government ‘Brexit-loket’ site, he added: “Science is simply an international playing field.”
The comments follow a spate of doomsday warnings from big business about the risks to the UK from a ‘No Deal’. Campaigners were blasted earlier this week after claims a collapse in talks could threaten the future of the sandwich.
Yesterday a report by the Centre for London said the capital’s jobs market was booming despite the spectre of Brexit.
But banking giants HSBC and Japan’s Nomura stoked fears by both revealing plans to move part of their operations from the UK to Europe. HSBC said it would be moving seven of its Europe-focused offices from London to Paris early next year.
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Without explicitly mentioning Brexit, HSBC said it was “adjusting its activities” in light of “political and regulatory developments in Europe”.
Nomura said it had begun contacting clients across the EU so they can begin to conduct business with its Frankfurt-based unit instead of London.
A copy of the letter sent to clients said: “We are ready to begin onboarding clients to this entity so that we are fully prepared in the event of a ‘Hard Brexit”.
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