8 | MANE PRODUCT & TECHNOLOGY | NOVEMBER 2019
UK PHARMA INDUSTRY LAUNCHES ELECTION MANIFESTO
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has just launched a General Election 2020 Manifesto for Medicine.
The British industry body is asking all parties to make sure their policies support science and research and help Britain maintain its status as a world leader in the development of medicines and vaccines.
British pharma companies employ 63,000 people and invest £4.3 billion (more than any other sector) in R&D.
The ABPI believes the next Government should take advantage of Britain’s world-leading life science industry to improve the health of NHS patients, focusing on a strong relationship with the EU, new policies, and better access to new medicines.
Staying close to the EU
With Brexit around the corner, the ABPI underlines the importance of prioritising patients and their health.
Britain’s EU membership has created and sustained much of the regulatory, trade, and scientific infrastructure for the life sciences sector. The ABPI wants the next Government to strike a deal with the EU for future cooperation on trade, medicines regulation, access to talent and science and innovation.
It also recommends creating a nurturing environment for medical research so Britain can become the world’s best place for pharmaceutical R&D - attracting global investment and enabling patients to get cutting edge medicines and vaccines.
Policy focus
With massive skills shortages in the British pharma industry, apprenticeships are playing a vital role. As well as individual programmes, the industry supports the Apprenticeship Levy, whereby UK employers with pay bills over £3m (~€3.51) help to fund apprenticeship training – although the ABPI notes that the levy could be made more effective.