Pressure Grows on Ministers to End Secrecy Around UK-US Zero Tariff Drug Deal
Critics are accusing the government of concealing the true cost of a recent agreement with the United States, warning that the financial burden on the NHS could escalate significantly over the coming years. MPs from Labour and other opposition parties are intensifying calls for the publication of a comprehensive impact assessment, amid fears that the deal represents what some label a Trump shakedown of the NHS.
Cross-Party Concerns Over Financial Transparency
A cross-party group comprising Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green, and Scottish Nationalist MPs is set to convene to discuss strategies for compelling Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle to release the government's evaluation. Organised by former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell, the meeting aims to address growing anxieties about potential repercussions for healthcare services.
McDonnell emphasised: There are real worries that the US/UK deal will result in significantly higher drug costs, which will in turn result in resources being drawn from investment in NHS services. He advocates for an independent, transparent assessment to ensure public awareness of all implications.
Deal Details and Escalating Costs
Under the terms of the agreement, the UK has committed to doubling its expenditure on new pharmaceuticals from 0.3% of GDP to 0.6% by 2035. This pledge necessitates sustained increases in spending throughout the period, raising concerns among health experts about potential additional costs amounting to billions annually by the deal's conclusion.
While the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall have estimated an extra £1 billion in costs between 2025/26 and 2028/29, they have not provided figures beyond this timeframe. Ministers have also declined to specify which department will bear these expenses, despite parliamentary inquiries from both Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs.
Government Secrecy and FOI Refusals
In response to a freedom of information request from campaign group Global Justice Now, the DHSC recently refused to disclose long-term cost projections or correspondence related to the deal, citing exemptions under information legislation. Tim Bierley, policy and campaigns manager at Global Justice Now, criticised this lack of transparency: 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.
Political Backlash and Calls for Accountability
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has been vocal in his condemnation, describing the deal as an act of surrender by Keir Starmer and accusing the government of allowing NHS spending to be influenced by foreign interests. Davey argued: It's an insult to patients suffering on crammed hospital corridors who have been told time and time again there is no money for the improvements they need.
The cross-party group is also considering options such as seeking a Commons debate and vote on the agreement, as well as urging select committees to investigate its negotiation and potential consequences. Despite government assurances that the deal will protect patient access to medicines and boost pharmaceutical investment in the UK, the ongoing secrecy continues to fuel demands for greater accountability and clarity.
