NHS to pay 25% more for innovative drugs after UK–US zero-tariff deal

UK to Spend Up to 25% More on Innovative Medicines in Deal with US

The UK government has agreed to pay 25% more for innovative medicines by 2035 as part of a new zero-tariff deal with the United States. The agreement is estimated to cost an additional £3bn per year and will see the NHS, which currently spends £14.4bn annually on such therapies, double its allocation of GDP to buying innovative products.

Critics, including the Liberal Democrats, have accused the government of caving in to US pressure, with their health spokesperson Helen Morgan saying, "Trump demanded these pay rises to put Americans first and our government rolled over." However, NHS leaders argue that the deal will lead to tens of thousands of patients receiving groundbreaking new treatments.

The agreement also includes a significant boost to funding for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), which is responsible for determining whether medications are deemed good value for money. The increase in Nice's budget will allow it to approve more life-extending treatments, including those for cancer and rare conditions that currently exceed spending thresholds.

While some industry leaders have welcomed the deal, others have expressed concerns about the impact on NHS funding. Dr Andrew Hill, an expert on the pharmaceutical industry, warned that the increased costs will lead to less money for doctors, nurses, ambulances, and simple procedures that can save lives using low-cost generic drugs.

The US had threatened to impose a 100% tariff on UK-made medicines if they were not repatriated to the country. However, as part of this new deal, £6.6bn worth of UK-made medications exported to the US will now escape tariffs for at least three years.

In response to criticism that ministers have caved in to US pressure, Whitehall sources claim that the NHS had received hundreds of millions of pounds in funding earlier this year to cover the costs of the deal in its early years. However, they acknowledge that the issue of who pays will need to be settled during future spending reviews.

Overall, the agreement represents a significant shift in the UK's approach to drug pricing and procurement. While some have welcomed the increased investment in innovative medicines, others remain concerned about the impact on NHS funding and the long-term sustainability of this new deal.

The max has spoken : I think it's a double-edged sword what they've done here. On one hand, we're talking about life-extending treatments for thousands of patients & that's gotta be good news . But on the other hand, we're gonna have to fork over an extra £3bn a year, which is a pretty penny . I mean, where are they gonna get that from? Doctors' paychecks probably ? That worries me, because I know how precious those guys are .

And what about the NHS, man? They're already stretched thin as it is, & now they gotta deal with these massive price hikes? It's a lot to handle . But at the same time, you can't deny that some of this stuff could save lives . So I guess we'll just have to see how it all plays out in the coming years .

It's funny, too, because people are always going on about how we need more funding for healthcare . Well, here's another chunk of cash that's gonna go straight into the NHS' pockets . But will it be enough? Only time will tell .

omg 25% more for meds sounds like alot but i guess its good news that ppl will get new treatments soon nhs leaders say its a big win but critics are saying its gonna hurt them in the short term and im kinda with them, dont wanna see doctors and nurses struggling to make ends meet gotta hope they can find ways to balance it out tho

The government's willingness to spend an extra £3 billion annually on innovative medicines is a double-edged sword . On one hand, it'll give the NHS more resources for groundbreaking treatments that can literally save lives . But on the other hand, critics are right – we should be questioning who's footing the bill here . I mean, is it fair to burden British taxpayers with this increased cost when US dollars will also be funding these medicines? It's like throwing money out the window... into a different country

the uk gov is basically saying they'll spend more on fancy meds by 2035 but it's gonna cost them £3bn a year... that's like, almost half the nhs budget for those meds some ppl are worried it'll leave less cash for docs & nurses & basic procedures that can save lives meanwhile, some industry ppl think it's a good deal cuz they get to sell more meds to the us without tariffs but honestly, who knows what's best? maybe the NHS will just have to dip into its other funds or something

This whole thing just feels like a trade-off between innovation and affordability, you know? We're essentially paying more for these life-extending treatments because the US is demanding it, but at what cost to the NHS in the long run? It's also interesting that we're basically handing over £6.6bn worth of UK-made meds to the US without any tariffs for a few years... seems like a win-win for the pharmaceutical companies involved, but what about the patients who'll be footing the bill? I'm not sure if it's worth caving in to US pressure just yet...

I'm not sure I agree with caving in to US pressure . We should be prioritizing our own healthcare needs over what other countries want. I mean, we're already paying £14.4bn a year for these meds, that's a lot of cash . What about the people who can't afford them or don't need them? It feels like we're just throwing money at it without thinking about the bigger picture . And what about those generic drugs that could save lives using low-cost meds? Don't they deserve some love too?

I mean, I think it's wild that they're shelling out an extra £3bn a year for meds... I remember when we had to wait months or even years to get certain treatments back in my day. It was like they were fighting a war against disease or something! Now, it seems like we're just throwing money at the problem. Still, I guess it's better than the US trying to tax us on our own meds... that'd be a nightmare! What's really gonna happen is who's gonna end up paying for these new treatments when you factor in all the other expenses? It's like playing a game of whack-a-mole with the NHS budget.

The government's deal with the US seems like a big win for patients, but is it really? I mean, £3bn extra each year might not sound like a lot, but when you're talking about an NHS budget that's already around £140bn annually, £3bn can make a huge difference... or is it just going to be another price hike ?

I'm also wondering what's behind the claim that the NHS was given hundreds of millions of pounds in funding earlier this year. Did they really get a free pass from the government? And if so, where did that money come from? I think we need more transparency here .

It's also interesting to see how the deal affects UK-made medicines. Escaping tariffs for at least three years is definitely a win, but what happens after that? Will we be seeing even more of these "deals" in the future, where we're basically selling our healthcare system to the highest bidder?

I'm not sure I agree with Dr Hill's warning about less money for doctors and nurses. If innovative medicines are really going to save thousands of lives, can't we afford to invest a bit more in our healthcare system?

The US is getting richer from our money but honestly I'm all for helping people get better especially with cancer & rare conditions We should be proud to spend more on meds that can save lives It's like investing in humanity

I don't know if this is a good idea at all... We're already struggling to fund the NHS as it is, so now we're expected to shell out even more cash for some fancy American medicines? It's just not right. And what about the generic drugs that can save lives but aren't exactly sexy? We need to be careful here and make sure we're not sacrificing everything that matters for a few high-priced treatments. I mean, where does it end?

I think it's kinda weird that they're shelling out an extra £3bn per year for these fancy meds . Don't get me wrong, saving lives is important, but where's the funding coming from? It's all a bit of a bubble, if you ask me . And what about those generic drugs that can save lives too? I mean, we're already paying for them through our taxes, so why should they be less expensive now? It just seems like another case of the NHS being squeezed in all directions

I'm all for investing in innovative medicines ! The NHS has been doing a great job, but it's crazy how far behind they are with some treatments . This extra 25% funding will definitely make a huge difference and save countless lives . I mean, you can't put a price on that ! At least the UK is willing to stand up to US pressure and fight for what's best for its people . And let's not forget about the £6.6bn worth of UK-made meds escaping tariffs for 3 years - it's all about fairness and supporting homegrown businesses !

idk man... I just read that the UK is gonna spend 25% more on innovative meds by 2035 & I'm both here for it and not like what if they use that money to make life-saving treatments? but then again, £3 billion a year is a lotta cash & might put a dent in NHS funding. so yeah, I guess the deal has pros and cons... I mean, I'd love to see more affordable meds for patients, but can we also make sure that NHS workers get paid enough too?

just saw this news and gotta say, I'm all for more ppl getting access to those fancy new meds but £3bn is a lot of cash like what's gonna happen 2 those generic meds & cheap treatments? won't we just end up overspending on everything instead of fixing the root problems? also, what about them hospitals & clinics in the UK that can't afford all this extra spending?

I gotta disagree with all this , thinkin' we're just throwin' more cash at a problem that's never gonna be solved. £3bn a year is a bloody fortune, mate! We should be prioritizin' them low-cost generics, not breakin' the bank on fancy new meds for cancer and whatnot. NHS leaders are sayin' it'll lead to more patients gettin' better treatments, but I'm callin' BS . There's gotta be a way to make these expensive meds more affordable without sacrificin' our entire healthcare system. We need some real change, not just a Band-Aid solution to this massive problem

this is all so crazy ... i mean, its great that patients will get more access to life-extending treatments but 25% more for meds? thats like adding £6bn to NHS budget in one year... its a lot of money and im not sure if its just a one-time thing or a long-term commitment. and what about the generic drugs? people are forgetting that those save lives too

I'm not buying that we're just caving in to US pressure . The UK gov's been planning for this for ages, and they're not just doling out cash like it's going out of style . It's all about getting the NHS to adopt these new meds and keeping up with global standards . Yeah, there are gonna be some tough choices on who gets cut from the budget , but that's part of the deal .

And let's not forget, we're not just talking about a one-time payment here, it's an ongoing commitment . The NHS is already feeling the pinch with all these new meds and whatnot , so this should help take some of the pressure off . I think we're getting a sweet deal overall , and we'll see more innovative treatments come our way .

I'm surprised they're making it up to the US like that 25% more for innovative meds by 2035? That's a pretty big chunk of change... and what about us? I mean, we're the ones who have to foot the bill for those treatments too . Don't get me wrong, it's great that the NHS will be getting some much-needed cash to save lives, but where's the thought for the patients who can't afford these meds in the first place? We should be doing more to help with the costs, not just shelling out more cash to the US .

I'm so over these politicians always saying we need more funds for 'innovative medicines'... like we don't already waste enough on bureaucratic red tape . Can't they just make some cost-effective generic versions instead? I mean, £3bn more per year is a lot of cash to be throwing around, especially when the NHS has a huge budget that's always being stretched thin .

And what's with all these 'groundbreaking new treatments' everyone keeps talking about? Are we really that desperate for anything that'll just break the bank? . I mean, don't get me wrong, cancer and rare conditions are terrible, but let's not forget about all the everyday people who need actual healthcare that doesn't cost an arm and a leg .

By the way, has anyone else noticed how quickly these deals get announced without any real consideration for the long-term effects? Just a bunch of promises to pay more later down the line . I'm no expert, but it just seems like another example of 'we'll figure it out later' .