‘Problematic precedent’: expert says Australia could be next as UK agrees to pay 25% more for new US medicines
US has said it hopes other countries will follow as health policy experts say the agreement signals a shift away from value-for-money assessment Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal health minister, Mark Butler, said the government is trying to understand a...
<p>US has said it hopes other countries will follow as health policy experts say the agreement signals a shift away from value-for-money assessment </p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The federal health minister, Mark Butler, said the government is trying to understand a “dynamic shift that’s happening in the global pharmaceutical market” following a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/01/uk-us-agree-zero-tariff-pharmaceuticals-deal">new agreement that will see the UK pay 25% more for new US medicines</a>, as drugs policy experts warn the deal sets a “problematic precedent”.</p><p>Under the deal, the UK will double the percentage of GDP it allocates to buying innovative therapies from the US. The deal has led to UK experts expressing concern that the National Health Service will pay more money for new treatments, with less money left to pay for health staff and proven existing treatments.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/02/problematic-precedent-expert-says-australia-could-be-next-as-uk-agrees-to-pay-25-more-for-new-us-medicines">Continue reading...</a>
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