Industry has paid millions of pounds under the ongoing UK Voluntary Scheme on Branded Medicines Pricing and Access but there are concerns over poor progress with other commitments that were promised under the scheme for managing branded medicine spend by the National Health Service.

Plans for a new commercial framework for publicly funded medicines in England are out for consultation. The concept of fair and responsible pricing figures large in the proposals.

Health advocates hail the move but the EU and UK still insist a waiver is not the solution to boosting the availability of coronavirus vaccines.