Last month, the government made a deal with Donald Trump and big pharma to dismantle price controls on NHS medicines. Since then, they’ve been elusive when asked about the long-term price tag – but we think this deal could cost the NHS up to £9 billion. (1)
We put in a freedom of information request asking what long-term calculations the government had made. Shockingly, the Department of Health and Social Care said they do have an answer, but won’t make it public. Even after the Guardian ran a story on our request this week, the government continued to stonewall us. This secrecy is outrageous: what do ministers have to hide?
Can you join me in demanding the health secretary comes clean on the true cost of Trump’s NHS deal, and gives MPs a proper vote?
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We know the pharmaceutical industry lobbied hard to erode the UK’s sensible price control regime – and Trump has applied pressure too, threatening tariffs. But the government’s strategy of giving in to their expensive demands and hoping this limits the damage is a disaster.
We know this because pharma lobbyists are already suggesting this deal is just the start of their push to charge more for drugs. In a submission to parliament last year, one pharma company even said they want to see UK outlay on medicines increase to be "in line with US spend".
Of course, the NHS needs access to the most effective drugs, but this deal effectively commits the UK to paying more for the same medicines. Our estimates suggest this will cost up to £9 billion – and we think the government knows this. Ministers must come clean about the true cost of this deal – and allow a proper debate on whether it's worth it.
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Thank you for your support,
Tim Bierley
Campaigner, Global Justice Now
Notes
1. US-UK pharma deal: a £9bn hit to the NHS? Global Justice Now, 28 January 2026
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