Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference para 1.11 of the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access - Chapters and Glossary, published December 2018, whether he has made an assessment of that schemes progress against its objectives; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Will Quince
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 9 January 2023 to Question 113161, 113162, 113178.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing Access rebate on (a) investment in clinical trials and (b) the UK's market for launching innovative treatments.
Answered by Will Quince
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 9 January 2023 to Question 113161, 113162, 113178.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential relationship between the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing Access and the delivery of the ambitions set out in the Life Sciences Vision; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Will Quince
No specific assessment has been made. However, the Government remains committed to working with the pharmaceutical industry to deliver on the commitments made in the Life Sciences Vision and to ensure that the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access is seen as part of a holistic environment for Life Sciences.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of changes to the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing Access (VPAS) rebate on (a) clinical trials investment in the UK and (b) the prioritisation of the UK as a launch market for innovative treatments.
Answered by Will Quince
The impact of higher payment percentages in both the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS), and the Statutory Scheme on research and development investment, on the prioritisation of the United Kingdom as launch market for innovative treatment was considered as part of a consultation process in 2022 to update the statutory scheme to control the costs of branded health service medicines. It is also being considered in a current consultation.
Full details of the current consultation are available at the following link:
Full details of the earlier 2022 consultation are available at the following link:
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the extent to which the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing Access (VPAS) has met its objectives as laid out in the scheme documentation of supporting the life sciences industry across the UK and future innovation; and if will make a statement.
Answered by Will Quince
The Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS) has met the objectives laid out in the scheme documentation, as discussed at the mid-scheme review held in September 2021.
The minutes of the review are available at the following link:
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason the NHS will only fund many immunotherapy treatments for a maximum of two years; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The clinical trials for many immunotherapy treatments licensed and recommended for use in the National Health Service in England were based on uninterrupted treatment for a maximum of two years. There is insufficient evidence to show that continued treatment beyond two years provides additional clinical benefit. This aligns with evidence submitted to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) by the pharmaceutical company and the cost-effectiveness of treatment beyond this timescale is not known.
When developing clinical treatment criteria, NHS England considers the evidence base on which products are licensed and approved for use, in addition to with the considerations of NICE’s appraisal committee.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will allow immunotherapy to be funded indefinitely where it is found to have a beneficial effect on patients; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The clinical trials for many immunotherapy treatments licensed and recommended for use in the National Health Service in England were based on uninterrupted treatment for a maximum of two years. There is insufficient evidence to show that continued treatment beyond two years provides additional clinical benefit. This aligns with evidence submitted to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) by the pharmaceutical company and the cost-effectiveness of treatment beyond this timescale is not known.
When developing clinical treatment criteria, NHS England considers the evidence base on which products are licensed and approved for use, in addition to with the considerations of NICE’s appraisal committee.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of increasing the number of medicine places available at universities; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Will Quince
The Government has funded an additional 1,500 undergraduate medical school places each year for domestic students in England - a 25% increase over three years. This expansion was completed in September 2020 and has delivered five new medical schools in England.
There are currently record numbers of medical students in training.
The Government has commissioned NHS England to develop a long-term plan for the NHS workforce and this will include independently-verified forecasts for the number of doctors, nurses and other professionals needed in five, ten and 15 years’ time.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make it her policy to work with Cabinet colleagues to require disability signage to include an upright stick figure on signage to raise awareness of hidden disabilities; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Caroline Johnson
We have no current plans to do so. In 2019/20 the Cabinet Office’s Disability Unit, the British Standards Institute and other stakeholders considered the development of a new non-visible disability sign. However, agreement was not reached at that time and there are no current plans for further development.
Under the Equality Act 2010, certain organisations, such as those providing health and social care for disabled people, must make reasonable adjustments to remove barriers which may be experienced by disabled people, including in relation to signage.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending eligibility to make claims for the deceased' s loss and suffering to affected people other than the executor in cases of medical negligence.
Answered by Will Quince
The Administration of Estates Act 1925 provides that claims on behalf of the estate of a deceased person may be made by their personal representative, such as the executor of a will and grants of probate provide the legal standing to conduct litigation on behalf of the estate. Claims may also be made by certain dependants of the deceased person either under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 for damages, loss of income or service dependency, or the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934, also for damages.