A further issue to reflect on in relation to ending transition on 31 December 2020. At that point, the UK falls out of the EU regime for licensing medicines (including vaccines and drugs used to treat Covid-19) and medical devices (including ventilators, some PPE).
The implications are explored in the article and my thread here.
As I say, there are patches to deal with the consequences of a sudden exit from the EU regime (exacerbated by the current government’s insistence on leaving it entirely). But they are patches, and won’t work long-term.
And the question we should really be asking is whether those responsible for approving and regulating new vaccines, treatments and devices to deal with Covid 19 should (in the next 6 months) be concentrating on that?
Or should their focus be on devising new regs and setting up new systems and procedures for the post transition regime?
