Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to align medicines spending growth with NHS budget growth in real terms.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The allowed rate of growth for branded medicines is established by the 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG).
The VPAG plays an important role in delivering improved health gains from medicines in the National Health Service across the United Kingdom, by securing rapid access to new medicines, supporting economic growth, and contributing to a financially sustainable health service.
We are taking decisive action to review the scheme to unlock innovation and drive investment in the UK's world-class pharmaceutical sector.
This review is ongoing, demonstrating our commitment to creating an environment where this innovative sector can thrive.
Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth and (b) statutory scheme payment rates on attracting pharmaceutical companies to invest in (i) clinical trials, (ii) research and development and (iii) manufacturing.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Life sciences is a key growth-driving sector and is a core part of our modern Industrial Strategy. The 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAG) introduced, for the first time, an approximately £400 million industry-funded VPAG Investment Programme. Funding from the VPAG Investment Programme is used to accelerate work across the United Kingdom on clinical trials, manufacturing, and health technology assessments. This is encouraging the United Kingdom’s economic growth, collaboration, and innovation in the health and life sciences sector.
In recognition of the concerns raised by industry regarding the higher than expected headline payment percentage rates in the VPAG this year, the Department brought forward an expedited scheme review. The conclusion to this review will be communicated in due course.
Any company that chooses not to be part of the VPAG will automatically be subject to the statutory scheme, which was recently subject to amendments, which will come into force on 1 July 2025. The purpose of these amendments is to restore broad commercial equivalence with the VPAG, to ensure that the schemes can continue to work together to meet our objectives of acting in the best interests of industry, patients, the National Health Service, and the broader economy. An impact assessment was conducted and published alongside the amending statutory instrument for this most recent update, which included consideration of the impact on clinical trials and manufacturing.
Additionally, the Government is developing the Life Sciences Sector Plan and 10-Year Health Plan to make the UK the premier destination for life sciences investment, by fostering an environment where innovation thrives.
Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory direct ministerial appointments excluding special advisers he has made; and (i) who the appointee was and (ii) what the (A) remuneration, (B) title and (C) terms of reference was for each appointment.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is responsible for making a range of public appointments, some of which are established in statute, and some of which are not. As of 29 August 2024, my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care had not made any public appointments directly, without competition.
Separate to public appointments, and in line with Cabinet Office guidance, ministers can also make direct ministerial appointments. As of 29 August 2024, my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care had made two such appointments. The first of which is the Rt hon. Professor Lord Darzi, who has been appointed to lead the independent audit of the National Health Service. This is an unpaid position, and details of this appointment and the terms of reference are available, respectively, at the following two links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-investigation-ordered-into-state-of-nhs
The second appointment is Paul Corrigan, who has been appointed as a Senior Strategy Advisor for the 10-Year Health Plan. This is a paid position, at a rate of £350 per day. Further details on the terms of reference for the role will be released shortly on the GOV.UK website.