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UK-US Drug Pact Risks 229,000 Deaths, £44bn Cost

7/5/2026

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Story summary
  • BMJ study says the UK-US drug pact could cause 229,000 deaths by diverting NHS resources to American medicines.
  • The pact requires the UK to raise NHS spending on U.S. drugs from 0.3 % to 0.6 % of GDP by 2036.
  • Researchers forecast an extra £1.3 billion annual cost by 2028, rising to £8.8 billion by 2036, totalling £44.7 billion.
  • Campaigners and academics condemn the deal’s lack of parliamentary scrutiny and demand a public impact assessment.