Leading oncologists have warned that new NHS England Net Zero rules, due to come into force on April 1 next year, could put patients' lives at risk by disrupting vital drug supplies, including cancer treatments. The doctors say tougher climate requirements for drug suppliers could lead to shortages of essential medicines, a claim the Department of Health has categorically denied.
Under the new rules, drug companies hoping to supply NHS medicines will be forced to meet stricter Net Zero requirements covering their global supply chains – or risk being rejected. Firms will have to publicly report emissions from worldwide operations, commit to reaching Net Zero by 2050, and set out what they are doing to cut emissions.
Oncologists warn of 'deadly threat' to patients
Professor Angus Dalgleish, Professor of Oncology at St George's, University of London, said: "There are plenty of other places suppliers can go and there is a worldwide shortage of many drugs. It is madness." He added: "Shouldn't they look at how best to deal with patients - that should be the priority it is soul destroying. I wouldn't be so sure this isn't a deadly threat."
Professor Dalgleish highlighted that there is already a shortage of many drugs, such as hypotensive treatments and antibiotics, which are not profitable. He warned the new rules risk making the problem far worse.
Procurement bureaucracy and supply pool concerns
Professor Karol Sikora, former chief of the World Health Organisation's cancer programme and one of Britain's leading cancer specialists, said: "This is a crazy situation. Even relatively cheap generic drugs are in short supply and this is already an issue – pharmacists have a nightmare putting drugs together." He added: "There are enough drugs out there but it is to do with procurement. And this could threaten drug supplies, including vital drugs like cancer."
Professor Sikora explained that most cancer treatments need three or four drugs in one go, and missing out one dose will reduce a patient's chance of getting a good response. He said: "Procurement for the NHS is already incredibly bureaucratic. If you prescribe cheap drugs in hospital it already often costs far more than the cost value for them because of this."
He added that the new rules mean the NHS will be competing with a smaller supply pool, as many suppliers will not want to get involved, leading to fewer better deals. "It also means this will cost a lot more money however you do it and suppliers will have to bear this cost which means they may not bother, which will put drug supplies at risk," he said.
Department of Health responds
The Department of Health said: "It is categorically untrue that patients will be put at risk by the transition to net zero." The department added: "The NHS has clearly recognised that, where there are limited options for critical goods, equipment and services, patient care will come before any procurement requirements."
However, it also stated that the NHS has already saved hundreds of millions of pounds in energy costs through the adoption of greener ways of working, which they have been able to channel back into frontline care. This includes hospitals in Lincolnshire, which have benefited from over £5 million of investment to install solar panels, reducing their energy bills and saving funds to be spent on patient care instead.
