The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has issued a policy proposal aimed at supporting the delivery of the NHS 10-Year Plan.

The ABPI's position is that innovative medicines, vaccines, health data infrastructure, and embedded research must be seen not as costs but as strategic investments. They contest that these tools can improve care, reduce long-term system pressures and contribute to economic activity. They support their argument with comparative figures - the UK spends 9% of healthcare expenditure on medicines, compared with 17% in Germany and Italy, and 15% in France.

We summarised the recommendations of the ABPI’s full proposal.

1. Invest in innovative medicines and vaccines

The ABPI argues that medicines should be viewed as an economic and clinical investment. For example, analysis from PwC and the ABPI shows that improving the uptake of 13 medicines in line with NICE guidance could deliver 429,000 additional years of life in good health and generate £17.9 billion in productivity gains.

Despite this, the UK has seen a 10% decline in the availability of new medicines, compared to a 2% drop across the EU. Uptake of NICE-approved treatments five years after launch is 62% of the average across comparator countries.

A review of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) later this year could be influential.

ABPI recommendation: adjusting the scheme to ensure payment rates for newer medicines remain internationally competitive.

2. Support the three NHS shifts through targeted action

From hospital to community: There is local variation in the uptake of approved treatments. The ABPI cites a 26% difference across primary care. For example, delays in adopting Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) may have led to preventable strokes.

ABPI recommendation: aligning incentives, providing training, and establishing accountability across Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), Primary Care Networks (PCNs), and specialised commissioning. They also propose mobile oncology units and other flexible delivery models, supported by updated funding mechanisms.

From analogue to digital: Embedding research within NHS care has been associated with better outcomes and reduced hospital stays. In 2022/23, industry trials generated £1.2 billion for the NHS, but recruitment fell from its 2017 peak.

ABPI recommendation: a national, data-enabled recruitment service and investment in health data and genomics. NHS data remains fragmented and often paper-based.

From treatment to prevention: Preventative medicines and vaccines face regulatory and funding frameworks suited to acute care.

ABPI recommendation: revised evaluation methods and broader economic assessments. Full implementation of the NHS Vaccination Strategy, with appropriate ICB-level funding.

3. Strengthen NHS–industry partnerships

The ABPI calls for expanded cross-sector partnerships, particularly in primary care. Since 2019, only 105 NHS–industry partnerships have been formed within PCNs, despite early signs of benefit.

It is recommended that standardised partnership frameworks, including governance processes and shared metrics, be widely used. Publishing partnership outcomes could support transparency and shared learning.

4. Set metrics to track success

To monitor the NHS 10-Year Plan, the ABPI suggests specific outcome-based metrics, including:

• Patient access to licensed medicines based on full label indications.
• Local adherence to NICE guidance in formularies.
• Uptake of NICE-approved treatments within five years of approval.
• Comparisons with international peers on medicine adoption.

They also recommend metrics that include productivity, economic inactivity, and preventative health.

The ABPI’s proposals suggest that innovation in medicines, research and data should be viewed as essential to patient care and the wider health system.

Delivering the NHS 10-Year Plan may require a shift in policy, funding and practice. The ABPI argues that recognising medicines and vaccines as investments is central to this change.

As the UK Government moves toward implementation, it will be interesting to see if these proposals will be adopted for a collaboration between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry.

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