A top Tory today said it will be for US pharmaceutical giants to decide if they hike the price of vital drugs after Brexit .
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said “the Americans will take their decisions” despite dismissing Labour claims that costs could soar in a UK-US trade deal.
He added: “I think it’s hugely unlikely, why would they do that, what’s the interest?” Sky News host Adam Boulton replied: “Well getting more money that’s why.”
Labour claimed the exchange vindicated Jeremy Corbyn’s warnings that prices the NHS pays for key medicines could rise as part of a trade deal.
In 2017, UK pharmaceutical spending was £365 per person while in the US it was £946, according to the OECD. And leaked briefings last week showed UK officials had described drugs patents and costs as a “key consideration going forward”.
It came as Donald Trump today insisted he wouldn’t demand access to the NHS in a post-Brexit trade deal even “if you handed it to us on a silver platter.”
Boris Johnson said he could “categorically rule out” that “any part of the NHS will be on the table in any trade negotiations”, including pharmaceuticals, adding: “This is pure Loch Ness Monster, Bermuda Triangle stuff.”
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But Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “Dominic Raab has finally admitted what we all know – Boris Johnson is opening the door to a Trump trade deal that will force our NHS bills through the roof.
“It could cost the NHS £500 million a week which will mean more procedures cut, queues for care getting longer and fewer doctors and nurses.”
Mr Raab was questioned by Sky News after describing a UK-US trade deal as a “win-win” for business and shoppers, with cheaper prices in the shops.
Interviewer Adam Boulton said: “That means letting them have access to our markets, possibly even our health market, doesn’t it?”
Mr Raab replied: “Not the health market. We’ve ruled that out. The NHS is not up for grabs in any trade deal. We would walk away from a trade deal that suggested that was the case.
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“But you’re right, reducing barriers to trade on both sides is a win-win. It increases business activity, it’s good for businesses and creating the jobs for the future, but it also gives the consumer a better deal because they’ve got cheaper prices and greater choice.”
Mr Boulton pressed on: “As I understand it, we can;’t guarantee when we leave the EU that we will pay the same amount for American drugs in future, that they might decide to jack up the price, is that right?”
Mr Raab replied: “Well look, the Americans will take their decisions, but what we’re saying is -“. Mr Boulton cut in: “Which could be to jack up the price?” Mr Raab replied: “No, I think it’s hugely unlikely, why would they do that, what’s the interest -“.
To which Mr Boulton said: “Well getting more money that’s why.”
Tory Mr Raab said: “Well no not if you reduce the amount, er, volume of purchase.
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“But the key point in this is we will do the right thing by the patients, the consumers in this country and whether it comes to drug pricing or any other involvement of American firms that is not on the table for negotiation.
“It will be decided in this country, for the best interests of UK consumers and patients.”
It comes shortly after Mr Raab was skewered on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, where presenter Nick Robinson brought up a 2011 book in which he and four other Tories called for more private providers in the NHS.
Speaking as Donald Trump touched down in the UK for the NATO summit, Mr Raab told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I can tell you categorically I’ve never advocated privatisation of the NHS.”
The ‘health’ chapter of a book he co-authored in 2011 said: “The current monolith should be broken up.
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“Hospitals should be given their independence, extending the Foundation Hospital model – initially controversial but now almost universally accepted.
“New non-profit and private operators should be allowed into the service and, indeed, should compete on price.”
The book, After The Coalition, also said “we should take advantage of the extra efficiencies private sector companies can provide”. It added: “Across the world, countries with more competition, such as Germany and Switzerland, tend to be more efficient. Two thirds of German hospitals are run privately or not-for-profit.”
Mr Raab said it was a “ludicrous assertion” he wanted a greater role for the private sector adding: “You’ve picked probably a snippet from a pamphlet written a long time ago, but I can tell you categorically I’ve never advocated privatisation of the NHS.”
