BIA response to DHSC consultation on the statutory scheme 2026

The BIA has responded to the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC)’s consultation on proposed changes to headline payment percentage and approach to consultations of the statutory scheme to control the cost of branded health service medicines. 

Summary of BIA response:  

• We do not support the rates set in the both the statutory and voluntary schemes, as these are significantly higher than the rates in comparable schemes in other European countries and therefore damage UK competitiveness. High rebate rates particularly impact small and medium-size biotech companies with no other revenue streams, and do not align with the Government’s ambitions for the growth of the UK life sciences sector. 

• We do not support the proposed procedure for future consultations as this would create issues around transparency and stakeholder engagement, and it is not clear how the workshops would lead to clear outcomes. Instead, DHSC should explore alternative mechanisms to speed up the process.