Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the CMA's press release entitled CMA fines pharma firm over pricing of crucial thyroid drug, published on 29 July 2022, what steps he is taking to prevent extreme price gouging; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including generic drugs in the NHS Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access.

The costs of branded medicines are controlled by the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS) and the statutory scheme for branded medicines. For unbranded generic medicines, the Department encourages competition between suppliers to maintain lower prices. In primary care, community pharmacies are incentivised to source products at the lowest possible cost and in secondary care, competitive tenders ensure value-for-money to the National Health Service.

Where competition does not achieve these aims, the Department alerts the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Where companies are found by the CMA to be in breach of competition law, the Department considers seeking damages.