Ministers in the UK face increasing pressure to disclose details surrounding a recent agreement with the United States regarding the cost of medicines. Critics describe the arrangement as a “Trump shakedown of the NHS,” prompting calls from opposition MPs for transparency regarding the impact of the deal.
The agreement, reached in September 2023, permits the UK to pay higher prices for new medications while allowing the NHS to allocate more resources towards life-extending treatments. In exchange, British pharmaceutical exports to the US will be exempt from tariffs. This arrangement raises concerns among health experts, who warn it could lead to additional costs for the UK government and the NHS, potentially amounting to billions by the end of the agreement in 2035.
A cross-party coalition of MPs from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and the Scottish National Party is set to meet on the evening of October 18, 2023. The meeting aims to strategize ways to compel Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, and Peter Kyle, the Business and Trade Secretary, to publish the government’s assessment of the deal’s potential impacts on the UK.
Former Labour Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, has voiced his concerns, stating, “There are real worries that the US/UK deal will result in significantly higher drug costs, which will in turn result in resources being drawn from the investment in NHS services.” McDonnell urges the government to commission an independent impact assessment to ensure that the implications of the deal are made public.
The coalition of MPs is also considering requesting a debate and vote in the House of Commons on the deal. Additionally, they plan to invite health, science, and business select committees to conduct inquiries into how the agreement was formulated and its potential consequences.
Despite the concerns raised, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) maintains that the deal will only increase costs for the NHS by an estimated £1 billion between 2025-2026 and 2028-2029. Officials have acknowledged that costs may rise after this period but have refrained from providing specific estimates. Furthermore, they have not clarified which government department will be responsible for these increased expenses.
In response to a freedom of information request from campaign group Global Justice Now, the DHSC declined to release long-term cost information or correspondence regarding the deal, citing exemptions under the legislation. Tim Bierley, policy and campaigns manager at Global Justice Now, expressed disappointment, stating, “The government is refusing to give the public or MPs any useful information about the true costs of this deal, despite being forced to admit the financial burden will grow year on year.”
Ministers emphasize that the “landmark” agreement will ensure UK patients maintain access to essential medicines, stimulate pharmaceutical investment in the UK, and keep British drug exports to the US tariff-free. However, criticism from opposition leaders continues to mount. Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has condemned the government’s lack of transparency, labelling the deal a “Trump shakedown of the NHS.” He accused the Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, of surrendering to foreign influence over domestic health policy.
“This is an insult to patients suffering on crammed hospital corridors who have been told time and time again there is no money for the improvements they need,” Davey asserted, adding that the government’s silence on the deal’s implications is a desperate attempt to appease the Trump administration.
As discussions continue, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the growing demands for clarity surrounding the agreement and its potential effects on the NHS and British taxpayers. The DHSC has yet to comment on the latest developments regarding the calls for transparency.
