An extra 229,000 deaths: Is that the cost of US-UK drugs deal?
Summary
A trade deal between the United Kingdom and the United States on pharmaceuticals allows UK drug exports to the US without tariffs for three years. Research published in the British Medical Journal says the deal will force the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) to spend much more on new US medicines, potentially causing hundreds of thousands of extra deaths due to cuts in other health areas.Key Facts
- The UK-US pharmaceutical deal was signed in December and removes tariffs on UK drug exports to the US for three years.
- The UK government agreed to increase NHS spending on new US medicines from 0.3% of GDP in 2026 to 0.6% by 2036.
- This spending increase means medicine costs will rise from 10% to 12% of the NHS budget overall.
- The deal does not provide extra funding to the NHS, so money will be diverted from other health services.
- Researchers estimate this could lead to 229,000 additional deaths in the UK over time.
- Scientists say the deal benefits pharmaceutical companies but could harm NHS patients by creating cost pressures elsewhere.
- The extra NHS spending required would reach about £8.8 billion annually by 2036, totaling nearly £45 billion over 15 years.
- UK officials argue the deal helps patients access new medicines and boosts Britain’s life sciences industry.
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