In a blog published by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on 9 October 2026, Chair Professor Anthony Harnden said contributions to the agency's strategy blog series had pushed it to reconsider "what kind of regulator we need to be in the future" as it published its five-year strategy.

Harnden said the series highlighted a need to operate as a regulator for all nations of the UK, citing Scotland's clinical research infrastructure, Northern Ireland's regulatory position and Wales's connected health and care system. He also pointed to calls for flexibility, including from Professor Rhodes, to support patient-centred, proportionate regulation of innovations such as advanced therapies and AI-enabled technologies, and to Professor Sir Aziz Sheikh's vision for a safety and surveillance system that uses data more intelligently.

He cited Sir David Spiegelhalter on communicating risk and uncertainty, and said improving the agency's culture and investing in staff skills and leadership were central to delivery. Harnden described the strategy's publication as a point to "move from reflection to delivery."