Campaigners threaten legal action over UK-US deal on prices NHS pays for drugs
Summary
Campaign groups in the UK are threatening legal action against the government over a new drug pricing deal with the U.S. They argue that a change allowing the health secretary to override drug price decisions by the independent NHS body, NICE, is unlawful and could lead to higher costs for the NHS.Key Facts
- The UK government made a drug pricing agreement with the U.S. under President Donald Trump.
- A new law lets the UK health secretary overrule NICE, the independent body that decides which medicines the NHS should pay for.
- Campaign groups Global Justice Now and Just Treatment say this power grab is illegal and harms patients.
- They sent a formal letter warning they may take the government to court to stop the rule.
- Former health secretary Andrew Lansley says the change breaks the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
- MPs from different parties are concerned about the secretive nature of the deal and the lack of parliamentary debate.
- The Department of Health says NICE’s independence remains protected and that the deal will help patients get new medicines.
- The government claims the deal keeps UK drug exports to the U.S. free of tariffs for three years.
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