Responding to the publication of the US-UK arrangement on pharmaceutical trade and pricing, Nuffield Trust Senior Policy Analyst Sally Gainsbury said:
"Last night’s statement commits the NHS to paying 25% more for new branded medicines, and confirms the weakening of its cost control and efficiency measures. The government has described its 'preliminary understanding' with the US government as a 'win for British patients', and some patients will of course welcome access to new drugs.
"However, the economic evidence is crystal clear: the health benefit the population as a whole gets from spending on new branded medicines is only half what it would get if the same spending was used to extend existing services such as GP care or operations from the waiting list. The agreement will mean an increasing share of the NHS budget will be diverted towards treatments that deliver lower health benefits per pound.
"The government argues these changes are necessary to protect the UK pharmaceutical industry from tariffs and attract investment. However, it has not published its detailed impact assessment of the costs and benefits - and claimed in a response to a Nuffield Trust freedom of information request that publication would prejudice the UK’s economic interests and trade relationships with the USA and other countries.
"The NHS being rewired by the policy of foreign governments is an unusual step, and needs well-informed debate. We urge the UK government to publish these details."
Notes to editors
- The text of the arrangement can be seen here on the Gov.uk website.
- The Nuffield Trust is an independent health and social care think tank. We aim to improve the quality of health and social care in the UK by providing evidence-based research and policy analysis and informing and generating debate.