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Trade Agreements: USA

Asked by Dr Simon OpherLabourDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 26 February 2026UIN 115070

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of the December 2025 medicines agreement with the US on costs to the NHS in England.

Answered by Dr Zubir Ahmed

Tens of thousands of National Health Service patients will benefit from this deal, which will secure and expand access to vital drugs, and safeguard our medicines supply chain.

Costs will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more life improving and lifesaving medicines. Total costs over the Spending Review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. The final costs will depend on which medicines NICE recommends and the actual uptake of these.

This deal is a vital investment that builds on the strength of our NHS and world leading life sciences without taking essential funding from our frontline NHS services.

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