UK pharma trade deal faces legal challenge
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- Advocacy groups demand the UK repeal a regulation in the pharma trade deal that they say would let outsiders influence NHS cost‑effectiveness decisions and are preparing legal action if the government does not comply.
- Pharma trade deal includes a U.S. commitment to zero tariffs on medicines exported from the UK for at least three years, making the UK the only country with tariff‑free access to the US market.
- UK government pledged to boost medicine spending from 0.3% of GDP to 0.35% by 2028 and to 0.6% by 2035 as part of the agreement.
- National Health Service will raise the prices it pays for medicines by 25% and cut the maximum rebate it can claim from drugmakers to 15% under the deal.
Why it matters: UK patients may face higher drug prices as NHS pays 25% more, while pharma firms gain tariff‑free US access; advocacy groups fear external influence could skew cost‑effectiveness rulings, prompting a legal fight.
