U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a no-deal Brexit could lead to drug shortages in the Republic of Ireland and on mainland Europe, as negotiations continue with the European Union over securing a withdrawal agreement acceptable to the British parliament.
“There are more drugs that flow from us to them: you would have thought that nobody on the other side would have wanted to have a blockage,” Hancock told an LBC radio phone-in show Monday, referring to continental Europe. He was answering a question about drug shortages if ports face delays in processing goods should Britain leave the EU without a deal at the end of the month.
With just 25 days to go until Britain is set to leave the EU, time is running out for Prime Minister Theresa May to secure a deal that’s acceptable to politicians at home. In the event of no-deal leading to blockages at Dover and Calais lasting longer than six weeks, other ferry routes would be used, Hancock said. He has also awarded a contract to delivery company DHL to fly medical supplies to and from Birmingham, central England and Maastricht in the Netherlands.