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Health Groups Warn UK-US Drug Deal Costs £44.7bn, 229k Lives

7/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Nineteen health organisations warn the UK-US medicines trade deal will divert £44.7 billion from NHS services by 2036, creating 229,000 excess deaths.
They have asked Andy Burnham, soon-to-be Labour leader, to scrap the agreement signed in December.
Critics say the deal was secured after pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to raise drug prices, prioritising pharmaceutical profits over patient care.

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Story summary

Nineteen health organisations warn the UK-US medicines trade deal will divert £44.7 billion from NHS services by 2036, creating 229,000 excess deaths.
They have asked Andy Burnham, soon-to-be Labour leader, to scrap the agreement signed in December.
Critics say the deal was secured after pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to raise drug prices, prioritising pharmaceutical profits over patient care.