Royal College of Nursing Ends Partnership With Teva Pharmaceuticals

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has ended its commercial partnership with Teva UK, the British arm of Teva Pharmaceuticals. As part of the decision, the union removed Teva UK as a sponsor for a nursing leadership summit on migraine and headache services scheduled for October 30, 2026, though the event will still proceed.

Carmel O’Boyle, chair of the RCN ruling council, stated that due diligence revealed corporate operations and legal sanctions that conflict with the union's values. The move follows pressure from campaign groups Nurses for Palestine and UK Healthcare Petitions to Royal Colleges, who cited Teva's links to state systems accused of international law violations. Teva Pharmaceuticals has faced approximately £1bn in fines from U.S. and European authorities over the last decade for market abuse, price-fixing, and bribery.

Teva Pharmaceuticals expressed disappointment with the decision, claiming that healthcare has been politicised. The RCN maintained that the nursing profession must only enter commercial relationships with companies that represent its core values.