ABPI – Delivering a Voluntary Scheme for Health and Growth, Mar 2025

The main topic of the report concerns the crisis in the current voluntary pricing scheme for branded medicines in the UK, known as the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines, Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG).

Key findings include that the VPAG scheme is in crisis due to high payment rates, making the UK less attractive for investments in the life sciences sector. The payment rate in the UK significantly exceeds similar rates in other countries such as France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. High payment rates negatively impact the industry's ability to contribute to the development of the National Health Service (NHS) and improve public health. Joint efforts by the government and the pharmaceutical industry are necessary to address the issue and review payment rates.