Consultation outcome

Proposed 2026 changes to the statutory scheme for branded medicines pricing

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 10 February 2026
• Last updated: 10 June 2026 — See all updates

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Response to consultation on changes to headline payment percentage and approach to consultations of the statutory scheme to control the cost of branded health service medicines

HTML

Final stage impact assessment: proposed 2026 changes to the statutory scheme for branded medicines pricing

PDF, 579 KB, 27 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@dhsc.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Detail of outcome

Following detailed consideration of the consultation responses, the Department of Health and Social Care has decided to implement the proposals to maintain broad commercial equivalence with the voluntary scheme, and expedite future consultations, by:

• decreasing the statutory scheme headline payment percentage for 2026 and beyond to 16.5%
• following an alternative approach to consulting on future adjustments to headline percentage rates by direct engagement through workshops with industry and patient groups, with an invitation to submit written evidence

---

Original consultation

Summary

Proposed changes to the headline payment percentage and consultation procedure of the statutory scheme to control the cost of branded health service medicines.

This consultation ran from
2pm on 10 February 2026 to 11:59pm on 21 April 2026

Consultation description

We are consulting on proposals to amend the Branded Health Service Medicines (Costs) Regulations 2018 to restore broad commercial equivalence with the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth (VPAG). The consultation will propose to update the payment percentage for newer medicines and simplify the procedure for future consultations.

We welcome responses from any interested person, business or organisation.

Documents

Proposed changes to headline payment percentage and approach to consultations of the statutory scheme to control the cost of branded health service medicines - consultation document

HTML

Consultation stage impact assessment: proposed 2026 changes to the statutory scheme for branded medicines pricing

PDF, 843 KB, 26 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@dhsc.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Published 10 February 2026

Last updated 10 June 2026 — Show all updates

1. 10 June 2026

   Added a response to the consultation.

2. 10 February 2026

   First published.