SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has called upon the UK Government to provide certainty for people with epilepsy that their supply of medication will not be disrupted in the wake of Brexit. 

Prof John Paul Leach, an expert on epilepsy, has already raised concerns along with Epilepsy Scotland about the provisions in place in the event of a ‘No Deal’ Brexit, and what affects that could have on medication supplies. 

Despite the health sector being devolved, the supply of medicines remains a reserved matter for the UK Government. The islands MSP has written to the Scottish Government to ascertain what assurances the UK Government have been able to give, and whether London has offered any insight into their contingency plans.

Alasdair Allan, who has epilepsy himself and serves on Holyrood’s Cross Party Group on Epilepsy, commented:

“In 16 days the UK is scheduled to leave the EU. The risk of a ‘No Deal’ looms in people’s minds, and there are real concerns amongst those who live with epilepsy that access to vital medication could be uncertain if the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal.

“It is frankly unacceptable that the UK Government has not made an effort to assure those who require access to vital medication that their prescriptions will remain uninterrupted. Epilepsy medication is there to prevent potentially dangerous seizures, and allow those living with the condition to have any adverse effects partly, if not entirely mitigated. Not having appropriate access to this medication has several knock on effects as well – there are cases where individuals are required by the DVLA to use the drug, otherwise their driving licence is deemed invalid. Switching to similar but unfamiliar medication in the event of shortages of a drug that has eventually been found to work for an individual is not an acceptable option.

“I hope the UK Government can provide certainty sooner rather than later on this - if on no other - aspect of Brexit.”