Brexit and patient access to medical research

Children and rare disease patients could be excluded from lifesaving clinical trials and networks when the UK leaves the European Union, according to the Brexit Health Alliance.

In a briefing paper published Wednesday, the alliance of organizations from the National Health Service (NHS), medical research, industry, patients and public health organizations, is calling on both sides in the Brexit negotiations to put patients first.

Titled “The impact of Brexit: Patient access to medical research,” the briefing warns that unless the right deal is reached, collaborative trials, networks and research activities of benefits to patients across Europe may be set back.