The 2019 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access: payment percentage for 2023

AI Summary

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), in partnership with NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), has confirmed that the payment percentage for the 2019 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access (VPAS) is set at 26.5% for 2023. This regulatory framework serves as a formal agreement to manage the costs of branded medicines within the UK healthcare system. The scheme is designed to achieve three main goals: accelerating patient access to cost-effective treatments, ensuring the NHS branded medicine budget remains sustainable through a sales growth cap, and supporting the UK's life sciences sector. While this specific announcement does not stem from an inspection of a single company or address specific regulatory violations, it establishes the collective financial responsibilities for all participating pharmaceutical manufacturers. To comply with the scheme, companies are required to make payments based on the 26.5% rate if the growth of branded medicine sales exceeds the agreed-upon threshold. These actions are necessary to maintain the fiscal balance of the NHS while continuing to encourage pharmaceutical innovation and the timely delivery of new medicines to the public.