Ministers Urged to End Secrecy Over UK-US Drug Deal as Costs Loom
Pressure is intensifying on the government to disclose the full financial implications of a recent agreement with the United States regarding pharmaceutical tariffs, with opposition MPs labelling it a "Trump shakedown of the NHS". Critics argue that the deal, which aims to avoid tariffs on British drug exports to the US, could impose billions in extra annual costs on the UK by 2035, yet ministers have withheld key details from public scrutiny.
Cross-Party Coalition Demands Transparency
A group of MPs from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, and the Scottish National Party is convening to strategise on compelling Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle to release the government's impact assessment. Organised by former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, the coalition warns that higher drug costs could drain resources from essential NHS services, jeopardising patient care and investment.
McDonnell emphasised the need for an open and independent review, stating: "The government has a responsibility to publish a full impact assessment of the deal on the NHS budget and services." The MPs are also considering parliamentary debates, votes, and select committee inquiries to uncover the deal's origins and potential consequences.
Government Figures and Hidden Long-Term Burdens
While the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall estimate an additional £1 billion in costs between 2025/26 and 2028/29, they have declined to provide figures beyond that period. This lack of transparency extends to parliamentary questions and correspondence, leaving uncertainties over which department will bear future financial burdens.
As part of the agreement, the UK has committed to doubling its expenditure on new medicines from 0.3% to 0.6% of GDP by 2035, necessitating steady spending increases. However, a freedom of information request by campaign group Global Justice Now was rebuffed, with the DHSC citing exemptions, further fuelling suspicions about hidden costs.
Criticism and Calls for Accountability
Tim Bierley of Global Justice Now criticised the secrecy, noting: "The government is refusing to give the public or MPs any useful information about the true costs of this deal, despite being forced to admit the financial burden will grow year on year." Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey echoed these concerns, accusing the government of surrendering to US interests and undermining NHS funding decisions.
Despite ministers touting the deal as a landmark achievement that safeguards patient access, boosts pharmaceutical investment, and maintains tariff-free exports, the opacity surrounding its long-term impact continues to stir debate and demand for greater accountability in UK trade and health policy.
