Doctors warn of substantial risk to public healthcare

The Government has not yet taken “sufficient action” to deal with the “substantial risk” Brexit poses to public health, doctors’ leaders have warned.

The British Medical Association (BMA) raised fears that new trade deals struck by the UK after leaving the European Union could make it easier for companies to challenge – or even demand compensation for – “legitimate measures to improve public health”, such as the introduction of minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

BMA Scotland chair Dr Peter Bennie said: “The BMA have been clear that Brexit poses a series of substantial risks to healthcare and public health in Scotland.

“We are yet to see sufficient action to believe there is a real commitment to address these issues, in particular at a UK Government level.”

He cited trade agreements which could impact on public health as being a “key example” of this.

While Dr Bennie accepted these deals would be “the subject of considerable negotiation”, he stressed: “There must be a clear red line which rules out any moves that put at risk the ability of governments at all levels in the UK to introduce legitimate measures that tackle the extremely serious public health issues we face in Scotland.

“With our NHS already struggling to cope with rising demand, challenges like obesity or our damaging relationship with alcohol must be dealt with through serious, comprehensive action,” he said.

“Anything that reduces our ability to pursue such policies, or puts more power in the hands of those who would oppose such measures, simply must be ruled out.”

Dr Peter Bennie said certain trade agreements could impact on public health.