UK pharma has concerns about the new NHS 10-year plan
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has said that the new 10-year plan for the NHS has underplayed the role that innovative medicines can play in driving advances in healthcare.
In particular, the trade group is concerned that there is no commitment to increase the government's investment in medicines and reverse "decades of disinvestment in innovative medicines," as well as a "worrying signal about limiting patient and doctor choices around the best treatment for them."
That includes elements identified in our coverage of the plan's highlights, including the development of a single national formulary to replace local lists of approved medicines – with a new formulary oversight board that will be responsible for sequencing products based on clinical and cost effectiveness – and a plan for NICE to introduce a system of retiring guidance for existing medicines that it considers off poor value for money.
"The proposal for a new national formulary that seeks to sequence products raises a number of questions and concerns," said ABPI chief executive Richard Torbett.
"Any measure that reduces the many layers of bureaucracy and inefficiencies in the system and speeds equitable adoption of medicines is welcome," he added. "However, moves that push prescribers into adhering to set treatment rankings, alongside tasking NICE with identifying innovations that can be retired, risks restricting patient and clinician choice."
The ABPI also reiterated its concern that the UK now spends less on medicines than most of its peers in Europe. Around 9% of the NHS budget goes on medicines, compared to 17% in Germany and Italy and 15% in France. Meanwhile, the UK has had a 10% decline in the availability of new medicines, compared to 2% in the EU as a whole, according to the trade association.
"Parts of the NHS 10-year plan, such as boosting the NHS's offer on genomic medicine, and accelerating clinical trials, are exactly right and very welcome," said Torbett.
"This will transform patients' lives and take better advantage of the precision medicines and benefits of research that our sector can offer. However, the successful implementation of the NHS 10-year plan will require a fundamental shift in how the UK approaches innovative medicines and vaccines."
The pharma industry is already deeply unhappy with the government over recent steep rises in the rebates that drugmakers have to pay on the sales of newer products to the NHS.
Other funding concerns
Wellcome, meanwhile, welcomed the focus on science and technology in the plan – particularly plans to bolster clinical careers and enhance NHS data use – but Beth Thompson, executive director, policy & partnerships, said she is worried that "the bold aspirations…are not matched by the squeezed health research budget as outlined in the recent spending review."
Pharmacy organisations also expressed concern that they will be expected to take on expanded clinical roles in the government's Neighbourhood Health Service plan, with no word about additional funding for delivery.
"If pharmacies are to take on more responsibilities…proper funding must be in place beforehand so we can plan, train and invest to give our patients the level of service and support they deserve," said Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of the Independent Pharmacies Association.
Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash
