DHSC:SCI: support for a review of voluntary scheme for branded medicines

• The Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access, and Growth (VPAG) is a rebate scheme on the pharmaceutical industry which generates income for the NHS and controls the bottom line of the NHS budget. This is critical to the financial sustainability of the NHS by controlling how much the NHS spends on branded drugs - this is one of the largest commercial agreements in Government. VPAG also includes important elements that support the wider medicines environment, including supporting greater and timelier patient access to new clinically and cost-effective medicines, and support for innovation.