Government remains tight-lipped on PPRS

pharmafile | February 29, 2008 | News story | Sales and Marketing par 

The Department of Health has refused to comment on renewed speculation on the future of the UK's medicines pricing system the PPRS.

A report published in the Financial Times on Thursday suggested that the government would shortly write to the ABPI to confirm that the current system will be scrapped.

The ABPI has been in negotiations with the government since last Autumn on the future of the PPRS, and has made it clear it wanted the system to remain in place, even if amendments were unavoidable.

Issuing a joint statement, the Department of Health and the ABPI said: "[We] wish to clarify that while negotiations on a potential new PPRS agreement have begun, neither party is commenting on any speculation on the content of these negotiations."

This united front is in contrast to a seemingly calculated slip from Health Secretary Alan Johnson, who told the FT in January that the government would enforce a 10% cut in medicines prices.

The DH refused to comment on the remarks, which had hinted at the government's stance on the previously confidential negotiations.

The Government reiterated that if either party wants to end the PPRS, it must give six months' notice to the other side. The government is tipped to call time on the agreement in the next few weeks, but what shape the talks will take – including what model would replace the PPRS – remains unclear.

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