The share of the financial "NHS cake" that is allocated to medicines should be increased, according to Dr Trevor Jones (director-general, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry) speaking at a press briefing for the launch of a report called "Hitting the target". The report was published by the ABPI on January 10 in response to the Government's White Paper "Saving lives: our healthier nation".
Dr Jones said: "Medicines can not only be the key for achieving the targets but can even enable the Government to better them. Despite debates about the cost of prescription medicines, the fact remains that they are only a small percentage of the total cost of patient care. . . . This is a powerful argument for increasing the share of the NHS cake spent on modern medicines".
"Hitting the target" supports the use of modern medicines, saying that they could help to achieve, or even surpass, the Government's health objective of reducing deaths by 300,000 in four major disease areas, and that they will help people to live longer and healthier lives, which will put less strain on NHS resources.
The four disease areas highlighted in the report are cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke, accidents and mental health. It considers these areas in detail and provides evidence in support of the use of medicines, including those that are still in development.
"Hitting the target" is available for £10 from the ABPI publications department, 12 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DY tel: 020 7930 3477.

Medicines only account for a small percentage of the total cost of patient care, according to ABPI director-general