Story perspectives

Health groups warn UK-US drug deal risks £45bn, 229k deaths

7/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

Nineteen health organisations warn the UK-US medicines trade deal could divert £45 billion from the NHS and cause up to 229,000 avoidable deaths by 2036.
A letter from the SOS NHS coalition, signed by Medact, Doctors’ Association UK and Doctors in Unite, urges Burnham to scrap the deal.
Burnham’s health-policy record includes approving a private-finance initiative for the Royal Liverpool Hospital that exceeded its budget by £300 million and involved Carillion.

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Story summary

Nineteen health organisations warn the UK-US medicines trade deal could divert £45 billion from the NHS and cause up to 229,000 avoidable deaths by 2036.
A letter from the SOS NHS coalition, signed by Medact, Doctors’ Association UK and Doctors in Unite, urges Burnham to scrap the deal.
Burnham’s health-policy record includes approving a private-finance initiative for the Royal Liverpool Hospital that exceeded its budget by £300 million and involved Carillion.