Looks like Big Pharma isn't as big as it used to be in the UK. In fact, the struggling UK drug industry has laid off at least 10 percent of its workforce in the last three years, reports the Telegraph. This equals approximately 8,000 employees and the numbers are based on survey figures from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).
These problems are being largely blamed on changes made within the government and how it pays drug companies for pharmaceuticals. However, ABPI director general Richard Barker also sites education, taxes and the pricing of drugs on the cause of layoffs.
ABPI's survey included numbers from 15 small, medium and large companies, which represent about two-thirds of the pharmaceutical sector. International companies are also struggling with their UK branches. U.S. conglomerate Pfizer recently closed a large plant that was operating in Kent, for example.
A press release from the ABPI was released on March 13, stating that UK pharmaceutical companies may be struggling due to a lack of innovation. The statement reads:
The ABPI has considerable concerns on the critical skills supply for the industry, not just in terms of the numbers entering university to study relevant science subjects but also in the knowledge, quality and practical science capability of graduates. Further progress in addressing this issue remains key to the UK-based pharmaceutical industry.
With government reforms presently making a huge impact on UK drug companies, the coming months will be very crucial for the pharmaceutical industry. Only time will tell if UK Big Pharma can keep up with the Yanks.
Source: Susan Jacobs is a part-time teacher, as well as a regular contributor for NOEDb, a site for learning about and selecting an online nursing degree program. Susan invites your comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address susan.jacobs45@gmail.com .
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