Government confirms increase to pharma’s statutory scheme 9 Mar 2023

Despite opposition from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the UK government has confirmed its plans to raise the revenue clawback rate paid by pharma for branded medicines under the statutory scheme by just over 3%, from 24.4% to 27.5% for 2023. 

 The statutory scheme sits alongside the 2019 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access (VPAS), to control the prices of branded medicines to the NHS. Pharma companies pay either under the statutory scheme or opt for the voluntary one. 

 Following consultation with interested parties between December 2022 and January 2023, the government states that it expects the change to result in savings of £17-19 million by 2023. It is in discussions with industry separately on a future voluntary scheme. 

 Read the government’s full consultation response here.