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NHS 10-year plan reaction

Mark Samuels, Chief Executive of Medicines UK, said:

"The 10-year plan offers much-needed clarity and certainty on the future direction of the NHS and its service reform. The delivery of the plan will need to rely on the value and access achieved through generic and biosimilar medicines which fulfil four out of five NHS prescriptions. We are pleased to see the reforms look at how effective but better value products can be more widely adopted.

"The development of a single national formulary presents an opportunity to support clinicians in prescribing in the most clinically appropriate and cost-effective way for the benefit of patients independent of where they live in UK. The details of how it is implemented will need to be carefully worked through.

"The 10 Year Plan also says that NICE will retire funding mandates for medicines where other drugs subsequently become available that are proven to offer more successful treatment outcomes, fewer side effects, or are more cost-effective. We support NICE evolving its recommendations on a rolling basis to ensure that patients get the right treatment at the right time in their pathway."