Besins Healthcare UK (BHUK) was recently invited to provide oral evidence to the House of Lords Public Services Select Committee, as part of its inquiry into the sustainability of medicine supply in the UK.
This rare invitation reflects the important role Besins Healthcare plays in women’s health, particularly in the field of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and acknowledges the quality of our written contribution submitted earlier this year.
Representing Besins Healthcare
Paul White, Head of Legal at Besins UK Limited, represented the company and reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring consistent access to HRT for the millions of women who rely on our products.
He outlined the significant steps taken by Besins Healthcare to address recent supply challenges, including proactive investment and the construction of our new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Muel, Spain.
Challenges in the UK market
Paul underlined that the UK market environment has become increasingly challenging for pharmaceutical companies due to:
• price reductions,
• elevated tax burdens,
• and a difficult policy landscape.
He warned that these factors risk deprioritising the UK for global supply and investment.
A call for coordinated action
During the hearing, Paul called for a coordinated national approach involving the government, regulators, the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry to:
• strengthen forecasting and planning,
• incentivise investment and supply,
• improve communication across stakeholders,
to secure long-term, consistent access to essential medicines for patients.
Next steps
The Committee’s recommendations will be submitted to the UK Government early next year.
