Industry has a role in response to terrorism, say MPs
Better use should be made of the expertise of the pharmaceutical industry as part of the Government's anti-terrorism strategy, according to the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology
(our Lobby correspondent writes).
Members of the committee questioned ministerial reliance on a proposed
rapid response vaccine facility to counter the threat of biological terrorism
incidents. Its report, published on 6 November, said: “The United
Kingdom has a strong pharmaceutical industry yet the Department of Health
has so far failed to engage it in any meaningful discussions about how
the sector could contribute to the development of medical countermeasures.” This
was due, in part, to the Government’s “culture of secrecy” on
security issues, it added. The report said that there was little enthusiasm
among ministers for proposals from the industry to work together with
Government agencies to perfect reliable vaccines. Ministers are instead
relying too heavily on the planned rapid response facility.
Philip Wright of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
told the committee: “I think it would be interesting if a public
body could out-compete industries across the globe.”
Nick Higgins from Acambis, a company that has been working on smallpox
vaccines, questioned the ability of public bodies to develop vaccines
speedily to meet ever-changing threats. His company had been able to
produce one vaccine within 10 months of winning a contract.
The select committee also recommended a Centre for Home Defence to adapt
military scientific countermeasures for civilian application. |
