BREXIT could have huge consequences for Scotland’s NHS, including delays to patients getting new medicines and the supply of radioisotopes used in cancer treatment.
The Law Society of Scotland said leaving the EU “will affect many aspects of the provision of health and social care” in Britain.
With negotiations taking place ahead of the UK’s departure, they stressed it is “vitally important” the access and availability of nuclear health materials is safeguarded.
As part of the Brexit process, the UK has announced its intention to leave the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), whose supply agency sources and provides the medical radioisotopes that are used in radiotherapy.
“Nuclear technology is used for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. British nuclear reactors cannot produce radioisotopes, which form the core material for nuclear treatment,” the report said.
“Withdrawal from the Euratom raises major concerns of the supply and availability of this life-saving material.
“There is a serious concern that the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer will be greatly affected by leaving the Euratom. This concern is shared by, amongst others, The Royal College of Radiologists.
“It is vitally important that Brexit negotiators ensure that the access and availability of nuclear health materials is safeguarded.”
Brexit could also impact on the London-based European Medicines Agency (EMA), which regulates medicines for both humans and animals, allowing pharmaceutical companies to make one single application to get approval for products across the EU as well as in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
The EMA, which employs 900 people and is the largest EU organisation in the UK, could relocate after Brexit, with the Law Society of Scotland warning: “For the UK, as well as the loss of an organisation as a substantial employer, would be the impact of loss of access to the single market authorisation.
“This may result in additional time-consuming process, isolation and extra expense with medicinal companies choosing to relocate within an EEA country. A major concern is that the above would result in delays to accessing new treatments and medications.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here