UK-US Trade Deal Could Lead to 229,000 Excess Deaths

A study published in the British Medical Journal warns that the UK-US trade deal, agreed upon in December 2022, could result in 229,000 excess deaths in England by 2036. The deal requires the NHS to divert £45 billion from essential services to pay for new medicines, which could lead to significant cuts in health services.

The analysis, conducted by the University of York, the University of Liverpool, and Christchurch Hospital in New Zealand, indicates that the NHS will pay 25% more for new medicines over the next decade, increasing its spending from £14.4 billion annually to £44.7 billion by 2036. Most preventable deaths would occur among patients with heart, respiratory, gastrointestinal diseases, or cancer.

The UK government has defended the deal, claiming it will enhance access to innovative therapies and protect British drug exports from US tariffs. However, critics, including the campaign group Global Justice Now and NHS Alliance CEO Sir Ciarán Devane, express skepticism about the deal's implications for public health.