BioIndustry Association calls for governmental support ahead of UK general election

In the run-up to the UK’s general election in June, government spending within the life sciences industry has become a key topic in the debate. The UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) has added to this discourse with the release of a new report which argues that a continued lack of support from the government could lead to a loss of momentum and long-term damage for life sciences.

Now More Than Ever: Seizing the opportunity to make the UK a world leader in the life sciences finds that across successive governments, repeated pledges and policies have not been adhered to in order to encourage growth of the life sciences industry in the country. Thus, the report calls on all political players to voice their commitment to the industry with tangible policies to support their encouraging words.

It also singles out the power of the NHS as an integral part of a wider strategy to reinforce the UK life sciences industry, urging government to find solutions to maintain the service as a single integrated system.  In order to achieve this, NHS England must create a new strategy which prioritises the uptake of innovation in order to provide full support to the industry.

Alongside these key points, the report also implores the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to become more involved in life science policy, in line with the Department of Health, and calls for reform in drug access in addition to the introduction of a central fund to facilitate this.

BIA CEO Steve Bates, who appeared at the ABPI’s Annual Conference last week in London to discuss the importance of government cooperation at such a key moment, remarked: "2017 is the time for action."