Leading cancer charities have expressed their alarm that a no-deal Brexit could have a grave impact on lifesaving research to treat childhood cancers.
It comes after the publication of the governments Yellowhammer papers, which warned that medicines would be particularly vulnerable to severe delays in the event of Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal.
The documents also highlighted that three-quarters of medicines come from the EU.
Cancer charities are now calling on the government to take steps to ensure the supply of medicines and lifesaving research which are so vital to treating childrens cancers, are not harmed by a no-deal Brexit, after Boris Johnson reaffirmed his commitment to leaving the EU with or without a deal on October 31.
Cancer research UK says that more than a quarter of the clinical trials that it funds involved at least one other EU country, which are particularly important for rare and childrens cancers.
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The charitys head of policy, Emlyn Samuel, told Metro.co.uk: Its imperative that a “no-deal” Brexit does not disrupt the supply of medicines and medicinal products to the UK, or threaten vital international research collaboration.
More than a quarter of the clinical trials that Cancer Research UK funds involve at least one other EU country, and these are particularly important for rare and childrens cancers.
The Government is putting contingency plans in place to minimise disruption. But despite these measures, the scale of this challenge means that some risks inevitably remain.
Whatever the outcome on 31 October, the Government must take action to ensure that people with cancer are protected.
Children with Cancer UK has echoed those calls and is calling on the government to prevent any damage to essential lifesaving research which is vital to improving survival rates.
Acting CEO Mark Brider said: Like most medical research charities, Children with Cancer UK works closely with European counterparts to research and develop new and better treatments.
