The UK healthcare system has begun implementing a comprehensive metrics framework to monitor its new Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG), marking a significant development in pharmaceutical policy tracking and evaluation.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has introduced a range of monitoring parameters following operational review meetings held in July 2024. These metrics aim to provide transparency and accountability in the scheme's implementation, though notably, they were not established before the scheme's commencement.
Key Performance Indicators
The current metrics framework encompasses several crucial areas of pharmaceutical market access and pricing. These include:
- Price applications tracking for new products and significant new indications
- NICE Technology Appraisals and Highly Specialised Technologies outcomes
- Speed of NICE appraisal processes
- Scheme membership statistics and market share analysis
- Sales data before and after VPAG payments
- Growth patterns in scheme scales
- UK Pharmascan database activity
- Commercial framework implementation progress
Early Implementation Results
First quarter data for 2024 shows promising developments in the pharmaceutical landscape. There has been a notable increase in new product launches compared to the previous year, accompanied by rising price applications for New Active Substances.
Patient Access Schemes (PAS) data reveals a strong preference for simplicity in implementation. Q1 2024 saw 225 "simple" PAS operations compared to just 8 "complex" schemes. By Q2, these numbers slightly increased to 229 simple and 9 complex schemes, demonstrating a clear industry trend toward straightforward pricing arrangements.
Commercial Access Agreements
The metrics highlight significant growth in Commercial Access Agreements (CAAs), with numbers rising from 111 in Q1 to 124 in Q2 2024. Most of these agreements operate independently of specialized funding routes such as the Cancer Drugs Fund and Innovative Medicines Fund, indicating their mainstream adoption in the healthcare system.
Future Developments
The DHSC has announced plans to enhance the metrics framework further. Key upcoming additions include:
- Differentiated sales data tracking for older versus newer medicines
- Economic growth indicators
- Specific metrics for monitoring the VPAG investment fund
Industry stakeholders, including the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), have called for metrics to maintain clear alignment with scheme objectives. The ABPI emphasizes the importance of comprehensive measurement tools to effectively evaluate the scheme's impact.
Industry Implications
The metrics framework represents a crucial tool for understanding the pharmaceutical market's response to VPAG implementation. The predominance of simple patient access schemes over complex ones sends a clear signal to the industry about preferred approaches to market access.
The next operational review meeting, scheduled for November 25th, will focus on further refinement of these metrics, potentially introducing additional parameters to better track the scheme's effectiveness and impact on the UK healthcare landscape.
