…otherwise known as the PPRS, is being reviewed and the initial heads of agreement have been published. The ‘voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access’ retains many of the features of the previous schemes such as a cap on branded medicine sales and a stipulation relating to the NICE cost-effectiveness threshold (which remains the same).
Differences include a requirement of NHS England to more actively promote access. Further development of the Innovation Scorecard is highlighted as one approach as well as “committing to the objective of reaching the upper quartile of uptake for 5 highest health gain categories”….which is worrying….highest health gain categories are not necessarily the most cost-effective.
Other aspects of the scheme are less well described, such as exemptions from the scheme…something about 3 years post-licensing freedom of pricing? We’ll have to wait for further details about this.
