Thread by @GeorgePeretzQC

Worth noting, when claims are made about UK capacity to take swifter regulatory decisions outside the EU. NB, for those fascinated by the Protocol’s impact in medicines, that this means that the position is that in NI 5-11 year olds can have the vaccine while in GB they can’t.

https://twitter.com/mwarhurst/status/1469789458522378246

(Of course, dangerous to generalise about regulatory capacity on the basis of one or a few cases, which may have various complexities. But that knife cuts both ways: and there are grounds for concern about MHRA resourcing after it lost a lot of income and work after Brexit.)

In the longer term - a point I and others have made - there is a real dilemma here post-TCA with no good options. Rough sketch of those options: -

1. Adopt a “follow the EU” approach (means U.K. loses regulatory capacity; poor accountability if things go wrong);

2. Adopt an “as tough but a bit different” approach (means delays as pharma companies prioritise regulatory clearance in US and EU);

3. Adopt a less rigorous approach (possible problems obvious).

None look great.

Option 4 - probably not on the table with the current government but there for its successor - is to try to negotiate a teamwork/cooperation approach with the EU. But that won’t be easy.

Thanks to Michael for this: looks like an example of (2).

https://twitter.com/mwarhurst/status/1471156703576088578