UK Set to Pay 25% More for Innovative Drugs as Part of New US Deal
A landmark agreement between the UK and the US has led to a significant increase in the price of innovative medicines, with the National Health Service (NHS) set to pay 25% more by 2035. The deal, worth an estimated £3 billion annually, will see the NHS double its current allocation of GDP on innovative therapies from 0.3% to 0.6% over the next decade.
The agreement was reached after pressure from Donald Trump, who had threatened to impose a 100% tariff on medicines made outside the US. However, sources claim that the UK government had already agreed to the deal before Trump's threat. The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of "caving in" to US demands, branding it as a "Trump shakedown" of the NHS.
NHS leaders have defended the deal, stating that it will lead to tens of thousands of patients receiving groundbreaking new treatments. However, they also warned that the NHS receives insufficient funding and that budgets for care must not be raided.
The agreement has been hailed by industry leaders as an important step towards boosting pharmaceutical innovation in the UK. The deal includes changes to a longstanding NHS procurement agreement, which is expected to bring down costs for branded medicines. A new rebate scheme will guarantee suppressed prices for branded drugs if demand exceeds annual caps.
Critics argue that the increased costs will put pressure on NHS funding, potentially leading to reduced spending elsewhere within the service. Dr Andrew Hill, an expert in the pharmaceutical industry, warned that higher drug prices will result in less money for doctors, nurses and other essential services.
The deal comes as the UK pharma sector faces significant pressure from investors, with several major companies pausing or cancelling investments due to concerns over economic climate and support for the life sciences industry.
A landmark agreement between the UK and the US has led to a significant increase in the price of innovative medicines, with the National Health Service (NHS) set to pay 25% more by 2035. The deal, worth an estimated £3 billion annually, will see the NHS double its current allocation of GDP on innovative therapies from 0.3% to 0.6% over the next decade.
The agreement was reached after pressure from Donald Trump, who had threatened to impose a 100% tariff on medicines made outside the US. However, sources claim that the UK government had already agreed to the deal before Trump's threat. The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of "caving in" to US demands, branding it as a "Trump shakedown" of the NHS.
NHS leaders have defended the deal, stating that it will lead to tens of thousands of patients receiving groundbreaking new treatments. However, they also warned that the NHS receives insufficient funding and that budgets for care must not be raided.
The agreement has been hailed by industry leaders as an important step towards boosting pharmaceutical innovation in the UK. The deal includes changes to a longstanding NHS procurement agreement, which is expected to bring down costs for branded medicines. A new rebate scheme will guarantee suppressed prices for branded drugs if demand exceeds annual caps.
Critics argue that the increased costs will put pressure on NHS funding, potentially leading to reduced spending elsewhere within the service. Dr Andrew Hill, an expert in the pharmaceutical industry, warned that higher drug prices will result in less money for doctors, nurses and other essential services.
The deal comes as the UK pharma sector faces significant pressure from investors, with several major companies pausing or cancelling investments due to concerns over economic climate and support for the life sciences industry.
! 25% more for meds? That's like, whoa... I get that we need new treatments and all, but can't they find a way to make it affordable without breaking the bank 
? And yeah, I feel bad for the NHS, they're already underfunded... 
. What about the people who can't afford meds anyway? Don't they deserve some help? It's like, we're supposed to be this advanced society, but when it comes down to it, the rich folks get richer and the poor ones get poorer 
? Sounds like a fancy way of saying "we'll give you cheaper meds if you buy more"... I'm not sure how that works out for everyone...
25% more in 2035 is like, whoa 
anywayz i guess its 4 the greater good n all da new meds wil help save lives 
but still 
. I get that innovative medicines are life-saving but we can't keep sacrificing other important services for them 
. It's also scary when big companies just pause investments because of economic uncertainty 
the nhs already struggles to keep up with demand, can we afford this? 
so hopefully, the nhs can find a way to make it work 
. A £3 billion annual cost is just ridiculous 
.
why do they need a deal from trump anyway? and now we're gonna have less money for doctors nurses and stuff 
. I get that Trump was a wild card, but still, it's not ideal to be dictated to by one country's prices over another's. 
. Do we really need to raid other budgets just to cover this? It feels like we're trading one problem for another... 
. we need more funding ASAP! 
anywayz, fingers crossed this deal brings us some life-changing meds without breaking the bank 
. Still, I wish there was a more balanced approach that didn't just put the NHS in the middle of it all