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Government’s response to the consultation - A new value-based approach to the pricing of branded medicines

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 18 July 2011

The Government will continue to develop a new value-based pricing system that will help NHS patients get better access to innovative medicines Health Secretary Andrew Lansley today confirmed. A Written Ministerial Statement has been laid in the House.

The Government’s response to the consultation - A new value-based approach to the pricing of branded medicines - sets out our intention to work with the patients, clinicians, the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry to develop a value-based pricing system that ensures that NHS patients have consistently good access to medicines that they need.

Andrew Lansley said:

“We are modernising the NHS so we can give patients better access to the medicines they need. To do this we need to change the way drugs are priced and ensure value for money for the NHS.

“It is vital that doctors are able to prescribe medicines that they think will benefit their patients. They must be able to focus on what matters most – achieving the best health outcomes for their patient, not debating the price of a drug. Value-based pricing will ensure this happens.

“I am grateful to everyone who gave their views in the consultation and I am now looking forward to working with clinicians, the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry to develop a system that encourages medical research and rewards truly innovative breakthrough drugs.”

Contacts:

Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk