The NHS will save £7 billion by the end of 2023 thanks to a
five-year agreement with the pharmaceutical industry, which
ensures the NHS can continue to be one of the fastest health
systems in the world to roll out innovative medicines.
VPAS, the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and
Access, was introduced in 2019 to keep the branded medicine bill
affordable for the NHS by capping the growth of sales, while
improving patient access to medicines by getting new medicines
into use more quickly, and supporting our life sciences sector.
Thanks to the scheme, thousands of NHS patients have benefitted
from dozens of new treatments for conditions ranging from the
most common cancers, to cutting edge gene therapy for ultra-rare
disorders.
Through VPAS, NHS England has:
- Delivered a world-leading rollout of cystic fibrosis triple
therapy, which is crucial as the prevalence of cystic fibrosis in
the UK is the second highest in Europe and third globally
- Secured first-in-Europe patient access for a number of new
drugs, including a revolutionary lung cancer drug – sotorasib –
and life-extending prostate cancer drug, darolutamide
- Negotiated commercial agreements to provide three new
treatments, in less than three years, for children and adults
with spinal muscular atrophy – the leading genetic cause of
infant mortality
- Struck a series of national deals for HIV treatments and
preventative drugs that will support England to meet an ambition
to become the first country to end HIV transmissions before 2030
Health Minister, , said:
Not only has VPAS delivered value for money for the taxpayer and
saved the NHS billions of pounds, it has also saved people’s
lives by supporting cancer patients and others with
life-threatening conditions to have rapid access to new,
life-saving and life-extending treatments.
The scheme is vitally important as it keeps the branded medicine
bill affordable for the NHS, and ensures the UK life sciences
industry can earn the money it needs to fund research and
development into new and improved medicine.
The NHS buys medicines from pharmaceutical companies and is
internationally competitive in the speed in adopting innovative
medicines. Industry data shows there are five treatments
available in England for every four in Europe, as well as almost
a third more cancer drugs.
VPAS has also helped NHS England to:
- Continue progress that keeps England on track to become the
first country to eliminate Hepatitis C ahead of the World Health
Organisation’s 2030 goal
- Fast-track more than 100 cancer drugs to NHS patients via the
Cancer Drugs Fund
- Provide international leadership in the delivery of a
subscription-style payment model for antibiotics to incentivise
new development and help tackle antimicrobial resistance
Chief Negotiations Advisor to the Department of Health and Social
Care, Sir Hugh Taylor, said:
The future VPAS scheme must continue to benefit the NHS and give
its patients access to the best medicines, while supporting our
life sciences sector.
I’m looking forward to parties getting round the table to reach
an agreement which not only benefits the NHS but will also
encourage the pharmaceutical sector to continue investing in the
UK.
Negotiations for the successor to the current VPAS are expected
to start in the spring, with Sir Hugh Taylor appointed by the
government to oversee the negotiations. The successor scheme will
come into force on 1st January 2024.
NHS England’s Director for Commercial Medicines Negotiation, Rob
Kettell, said:
The NHS has a track-record of using its commercial capabilities
to secure world-leading access to life-changing new treatments
for patients at the best value for the taxpayer, with recent
industry data placing the UK in the top three fastest G20
countries to roll-out new medicines.
This scheme has had a major impact for thousands of patients and
their families, and ahead of negotiations for a new branded
medicines agreement, the NHS is committed to working with
government and industry to ensure that patients’ needs are at the
forefront of these discussions.
