ABPI response to the Conservative 2024 election manifesto

This week, the ABPI issued a challenge to all political parties to set out in detail how they will unlock the industry’s potential to drive UK health and economic growth.

Today, the Conservative and Unionist Party has published its Manifesto for the 2024 general election, which includes plans for policies to support the UK’s life sciences sector.

The ABPI welcomes proposals intended to improve and accelerate access to new medicines in the NHS. The Conservatives’ Manifesto pledges to “remove bureaucratic obstacles to the use of new medicines” and also to streamline cost-effectiveness assessments of medicines currently used by NHS England and NICE.

Commitments to increasing numbers of commercial clinical trials in the NHS are also welcome, alongside measures to help the UK work towards developing a world-leading regulatory system for medicines and med tech.

To support the sector’s global competitiveness, the ABPI was also pleased to see the Conservatives commit "to increase public spending on R&D to £22 billion a year and to maintain R&D tax reliefs" and also to push forward with its Advanced Manufacturing Plan, which the ABPI believes can play a major role in securing the UK’s future in medicines manufacturing.

Responding to the Conservative Manifesto, Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive, said: “It’s no accident that UK life science research and industry is among the economic crown jewels of our country. It is the result of a twenty-year, cross-party consensus on the importance of the sector and the skills and innovation ecosystem which surrounds it.

“This Manifesto rightly recognises our sector’s economic potential and value to the UK. We welcome promises to take steps to support future investment in manufacturing and research, as well as the commitment to remove unhelpful barriers like the NHS Budget Impact Test, which can prevent UK patients from benefiting fully from the innovations our members can deliver.

“We encourage other parties to come forward with equally specific proposals to boost the sector, so that the progress of recent years can be maintained and patients, the NHS and the economy can benefit, whatever the outcome of the election.”