Donald Trump and major pharmaceutical companies are being accused of pressuring the UK on drug pricing by international activists. Global Justice Now has urged the UK government not to yield to Trump’s threats of imposing substantial tariffs if the NHS does not pay significantly more for medications, warning of potential financial strain on the NHS.
AstraZeneca, a British pharmaceutical company, recently announced a £3.3 billion increase in planned investment in one of its manufacturing sites in the US. This move aligns with their commitment to local medicine production. Additionally, UK regulators found no evidence of anti-competitive behavior in the pharmaceutical industry’s warnings of withdrawing from the UK.
In a statement, Global Justice Now’s director criticized Trump’s stance on drug pricing, highlighting the disparity in medication costs between Americans and Britons. The organization, along with Balanced Economy Project and Just Treatment, had petitioned the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority to investigate possible anti-competitive practices by pharmaceutical companies, but the CMA found no direct evidence of collusion.
The NHS’s ability to negotiate lower drug prices compared to private hospitals in the US has historically been beneficial. However, recent developments suggest the UK government is considering raising the NHS’s “value for money” threshold by 25% in negotiations with the Trump administration.
Despite concerns raised by experts that current drug pricing thresholds may already be too high, the government seems to be moving towards accommodating the demands of pharmaceutical companies. The shift in pricing policies has led to substantial investments being withdrawn from the UK by major drug companies, such as AstraZeneca.
There are worries that the UK’s concessions to pharmaceutical companies could compromise the affordability and accessibility of medicines through the NHS. Activists are calling for the government to prioritize public health needs over corporate interests, emphasizing the importance of fostering a medicine industry that serves the well-being of the population.