ABPI Chief Executive, Stephen Whitehead, comments on the publication of the Government’s Response to the Consultation on Amendments to the Statutory Scheme to Control the Prices of Branded Medicines, which are not covered by the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS).

 Stephen Whitehead said: “The ABPI acknowledges the publication of the Response to the Consultation on Amendments to the Statutory Scheme and, as the recognised representative body for the biopharmaceutical industry, we welcomed the opportunity to respond to the consultation on behalf of industry.“Whilst it is good news for now that no further price cuts will be imposed on branded medicines on top of the 15% imposed last year, I am concerned that there may be further cuts to come. The overall spend on medicines only represents 9.6% of total UK NHS spend. Furthermore the total medicine costs in the UK represent 0.9% of GDP compared to 1.2% average across other countries and our medicine prices remain low compared to other countries. It is important to recognise the value that the industry’s medicines bring to the NHS and most importantly to patients. The medicines spend in the UK is simply not a problem - but it is an easy target."

For more details, go to: http://www.abpi.org.uk/media-centre/newsreleases/2015/Pages/300115.aspx