A coalition of MPs and health experts has warned that the NHS faces “staggering” costs for brand-name drugs as the voluntary scheme for such drugs comes to an end.
The group has written an open letter to the Health Secretary, warning that proposals from pharmaceutical lobbyists could lead to “even higher bills” for health services if they are accepted by the UK government.
The Branded Medicines Voluntary Pricing and Access Scheme (VPAS), which currently caps increases in NHS drug costs at 2 per cent a year, will expire at the end of this year. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) wants to replace the system with a voluntary pricing, access and growth (VPAG) scheme, under which manufacturers would pay a flat fee of 6.9 per cent on profits from selling drugs to the National Health Service.
Signatories include UK campaign organization Global Justice Now, Labor MP John McDonnell and Green MP Caroline Lucas, as well as leading health economists. They describe the demands as a “serious threat to the NHS” which they warn could lead to “sharp rises in drug costs”.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) previously estimated that the ABPI proposals would result in UK taxpayers paying £2.5 billion more per year for medicines. She deemed it “totally unaffordable” and warned it would “lower the cost of medicines for the public” and “reduce NHS patients’ access to new treatments”.
Analysis by UK campaign group Global Justice Now earlier this year found that pharmaceutical companies have charged drug premiums of up to 23,000 per cent over the past decade, making more than £12 billion in extra profits from just ten drugs – even in the current climate. VPAS budget. The signatories warn that the phasing out of VPAS could lead to further increases in costs if ABPI’s VPAG proposals are adopted.
The signatories are calling for proposals that would further increase NHS drug costs to be rejected. They add that in the long term, a new system must be built that “ensures fairer prices, more investment in drugs that represent real breakthroughs, and a high public return on R&D spending on cutting-edge medical research.” , in which they describe the process of achieving this goal.
Tim Birley, pharmaceutical campaign director at Global Justice Now, said: “Unsatisfied with the huge profits they are already making from the NHS, pharmaceutical companies are now trying to blackmail taxpayers for even more money.” Treatment methods require huge profits amounting to billions.
“However, much of the key research that drives medical innovation takes place in publicly funded institutes and universities. “The government must not only resist attempts to replace or weaken VPAS, but also fundamentally reform the way drugs are produced to ensure that patients and health are prioritized over corporate profits.”
Dr Philippa Whitford, SNP MP for Central Ayrshire, said: “In the current VPAS negotiations, it is important that the pharmaceutical industry recognizes the financial pressures created by the UK’s four national health services. In the short term, the UK government could use VPAS rebates to fund early access to new medicines, as is happening in Scotland, benefiting both patients and industry.
“However, in the long term, a better model for promoting medical research and development is needed, given that much of the research into originator drugs is conducted in academic institutions that already receive government funding, and that most clinical research depends on this” commitment both patients and NHS staff.”
DHSC and ABPI have been contacted for comment.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.