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‘The NHS being rewired by the policy of foreign governments is an unusual step, and needs well-informed debate. We urge the UK government to publish these details.’
This is the observation of the health think tank, the Nuffield Trust on April 3: ‘We need transparency about diverted NHS funds under US trade agreement – Nuffield Trust response to US-UK medicines partnership’.
The Trust’s press release also has this: ‘Last night’s statement commits the NHS to paying 25% more for new branded medicines, and confirms the weakening of its cost control and efficiency measures.’
‘.. the economic evidence is crystal clear: the health benefit the population as a whole gets from spending on new branded medicines is only half what it would get if the same spending was used to extend existing services such as GP care or operations from the waiting list. The agreement will mean an increasing share of the NHS budget will be diverted towards treatments that deliver lower health benefits per pound.’ (my emphasis)
The Trust reports the UK government’s response to a freedom of information request that ‘publication would prejudice the UK’s economic interests and trade relationships with the USA and other countries’.
The Nuffield Trust tends to focus on NHS England and on Westminster’s role in the resourcing and development of health services. NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government seem to have no locus, no agency when it comes to this pharma ‘deal’ with the USA.
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Failure to publish would destroy what little remains of trust in anything Westminster does.
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