Trump wants pharmaceutical companies to cut the cost of drugs for Americans and has even threated to ban exports to other countries until it happens.<\/p>\n
After imposing a raft of new tariffs on dozens of countries overnight, the US president issued a series of demands to pharmacy firms on his Truth Social platform, including Britain\u2019s GSK and AstraZeneca. <\/p>\n
Trump<\/a> asked them to guarantee the US \u201cmost favored nation\u201d prices for new drugs, threatening to deploy every tool in his arsenal if he needs to. If firms do cut the price they charge to the US for their drugs, they may pass that cost onto other countries such as the UK.<\/p>\n Pharmacy bosses have warned that the threats are already creating shockwaves throughout the industry<\/a>, driving up costs to suppliers, with the UK\u2019s vulnerable medicine supply chain at risk.<\/p>\n It means the NHS could be forced to pay more for the same medicines, and patients could struggle to find prescriptions as independent businesses operating at a loss will be forced to close their doors. <\/p>\n A Government spokesperson said it was engaging with industry \u201cto understand the possible impact of any changes to drug pricing\u201d.<\/p>\n But industry experts have warned that any move that could disrupt trade and therefore push up the price of medicines in the UK would threaten NHS budgets.<\/p>\n Firms could pull medicines out of the UK<\/p>\n Malcolm Harrison, boss of the Company Chemists\u2019 Association for large pharmacy operators across the UK, said the NHS would have to make a decision whether or not it is prepared to pay the price \u2013 \u201cand if it can afford it\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the Department of Health says \u2018we\u2019re only prepared to pay this much\u2019 and the going rate is higher than that, then the manufacturers and suppliers will have to decide whether or not they market in the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes decisions on whether or not drugs are too expensive to be offered on the NHS. Efforts to cut the UK\u2019s medicines bill, forecast to soar to \u00a33.5bn this year, have already seen some manufacturers pull out of the UK market<\/a>.<\/p>\n In 2023, this lead to shortages and price surges for atorvastatin \u2013 a statin to treat high cholesterol and prevent heart disease \u2013 and omeprazole \u2013 which treats heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux, as well as stomach ulcers.<\/p>\n Mark Dayan, policy analyst and head of public affairs at Nuffield Trust, said if the US president successfully implements his \u201cmost favoured nation\u201d settlement it would \u201cpotentially drive up costs hugely\u201d, raising the risk the NHS would end up paying more for the same medicines.<\/p>\n Newer medicines that are more profitable are likely to be most affected, he said. \u201cThey\u2019re going to be typically the kinds of medicines that you\u2019d often get in hospital for relatively serious conditions \u2013 or products like the weight-loss drugs<\/a> that people have been hearing about (GLP-1 receptor agonists).<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not going to be your everyday antidepressants, your painkillers and things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Pharmacies could fold as drug costs rise<\/p>\n Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), said pharmacy owners were already struggling with the cost of supplying patients with medicines they do not get fully reimbursed for. <\/p>\n Uncertainty in the global supply chain and any forthcoming impact from could mean dispensing more drugs at a loss.<\/p>\n Heart medications such as amiodarone, antibiotics to treat sore throat and Scarlet Fever in children are among the drugs that have doubled in price, while prescription painkillers such as cocodamol are around 25 per cent more expensive than before, he added.<\/p>\n \u201cMefenamic acid [an anti-inflammatory used to relieve heavy and painful periods] was costing me \u00a38 last month. I can\u2019t buy it for less than about \u00a360 today,\u201d says Picard.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Government\u2019s come up with a concession price of \u00a338.49, so every time I dispense this medication per box, I have lost \u00a322.\u201d<\/p>\n Any further stress on budgets would force more pharmacies that are already on the brink to close.<\/p>\n An average of four pharmacies a week closed their doors in 2024, according to analysis published earlier this year by the NPA.<\/p>\n While it is unclear what impact the trade decisions will have on the UK\u2019s medicines supply chain, the threat of disruption alone can have a huge impact, Picard said.<\/p>\n \u201cPatients will be affected. They won\u2019t be able to access their medication and no one will be better off as a result,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n UK supply chain is particularly vulnerable<\/p>\n![\"FILE](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_260617485.jpg\")
Trump wants pharmaceutical companies to cut the cost of drugs for Americans and has even threatened to ban exports to other countries until it happens (Photo: Alex Brandon)<\/p>\n![\"EMBARGOED](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_257272014.jpg\")
Uncertainty in the global supply chain and any forthcoming impact could mean dispensing more drugs at a loss (Photo: Julien Behal\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n