Supply and cost of medicines in the UK adversely affected by Brexit: Nuffield Trust

The Nuffield Trust has just published a report on the current state of UK Healthcare after Brexit. This is the latest of a series of reports analysing the implications of Brexit for  the UKs healthcare system since 2021. Unlike previous reports, this one clearly identifies Brexit as the main cause for ongoing medicine shortages in the UK. Their previous reports stated that the problem of shortages affected EU countries a well, so the blame on Brexit was qualified. Now, says the latest report, other countries in G7 have pulled ahead while the UK lags; and Brexit is the culprit

Quote below from their website:

“The elevated and troubling level of medicine shortages we noted in earlier reports in this series is continuing, with no sign of improvement in key indicators. We have previously concluded that this is not primarily due to Brexit, with other EU countries also suffering significant shortages. However, data now confirm the UK to have had the lowest import growth in medicines of any G7 country, driven by a reduction in EU imports. This does illustrate the particular impacts of leaving the EU.”

Dayan M, Lobont C, Hervey T, Fahy N, Flear M, Greer S and Jarman H (2025) Health in the UK  after Brexit: Moving apart or stuck together Nuffield Trust: 59 New Cavendish Street London W1G 7LP