The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) must be reformed to become a fully transparent, patient-first regulator.

This should include its approval processes, its monitoring of safety of existing products, its transparency and accountability, and its mechanisms to ensure patient safety is prioritised over commercial interests.

MHRA regulates medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK and has failed to keep patients safe since its formation.

A wide range of medicines, medical devices and blood products approved by MHRA and its predecessors have caused patient harm including contaminated blood, Valproate, mesh, Primodos, Electroconvulsive Therapy Devices (ECT) and covid vaccines.

The Cumberlege Report 'First do no harm' highlighted the severe failings of the MHRA, particularly in their management of the EWG review of oral hormone pregnancy tests. MHRA’s failure to take on board the lessons from this report has allowed dozens (possibly hundreds) of deaths and thousands of injuries by the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine in early 2021. 

Other European Regulators suspended this vaccine after the 1st death, but despite a fatal yellow card being raised on 8th February 2021, MHRA continued to defend its safety, and it is still approved to this day.

The review should also cover how conflict of interests can be eradicated, improving the yellow card process, and limiting its funding sources.

We believe the MHRA focuses too much on clinical trials of new medicines, rather than safety of existing ones.

MHRA's workings are far from transparent and information sought through FOIs is often rejected for "commercial reasons".

There is a 'revolving door' between industry & the regulator, board members have declared financial interests in the pharmaceutical industry.

Current consumer protection laws fail to adequately support individuals harmed by medicines, medical devices, and blood products, these also need to be updated to prioritise the patient over profits.

Many patient groups are fighting for redress (including Factor 8, Sling the Mesh, Rectopexy Mesh Victims and Support, Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests, VIBUK, Scottish Vaccine Injury Group and UKCV Family): in addition to the human cost, there is a financial burden on the taxpayer for compensation and also advisors and legal fees.

It is essential that these victims receive the redress they deserve, funded by the pharmaceutical industry, medical device manufacturers and blood product companies, rather than taxpayers.

Please sign this petition to demand an overhaul of MHRA's practices and stronger consumer protection laws for a safer healthcare system.

This petition is supported by a wide range of patient groups and campaigners including:

• Rectopexy Mesh Victims and Support
• Nicola Hutchinson. Campaigner for awareness of Topical Steroid Withdrawal
• Susan Morgan. Mentioned in Parliament/The Medicines and Medical Devices Bill January 2021 for the support she has given to mesh injured
• Charlet Crichton. Founder and trustee of UKCVFamily, support and advocacy charity for those adversely affected by Covid vaccination in the UK
• Marie Lyon. Chair of Association for children damaged by oral HPT’s
• Julie Scott. Campaigner for awareness of the danger of perineal posts and author of petition New legislation: ensure informed consent is always given to avoid patient harm
• UK ECT Improving Standards Group
• Debendox/Bendectin (Getting Heard).  Author of petition Justice for those harmed by the morning sickness drug Debendox