Archived Papers and Reports

Ensuring Access to Essential Medicines in Least Developed Countries and Sub-Saharan Africa PDF
This APG position paper (May 2006) includes sections on the importance of infrastructure in developing countries; the consultations held with the Department for International Development; the appropriate definition of geographic and disease areas; paediatric medicines; drug prices; differential pricing; diversion; donation schemes and R&D.

APG submission to the Health Select Committee inquiry into the influence of the pharmaceutical industry PDF
The world of patient care has been transformed by the introduction of new medicines, to an extent that it is impossible to imagine an NHS without them. The APG is proud of its contribution towards the reduction of suffering among patients in the UK, and believes that this should be the base from which the industry should be viewed by the Health Committee. The APG abides by the ABPI Code of practice in dealings with voluntary bodies and health professionals; endorses the Guidelines set out by the Long-Term Medical Conditions Alliance; and is bound by the PhRMA Code. The APG is attracted by the concept of having a publicly available register of late-stage clinical trials, on the basis that patients should have more information about medicines. The submission (August 2004) can be read here.

Increasing Access to Essential Medicines in the Developing World: APG submission to DFID PDF
The APG is committed to contribute to global efforts to lower the unacceptable numbers of people who die every year in the developing world from preventable and/or treatable diseases. In this response to a consultative paper by the Department for International Development (DFID), the APG set out its detailed views and drew attention to the need for a broad public healthcare capacity which, more than the cost and availability of drugs alone, determine access to essential medicines for the majority of people in the developing world. The submission can be read here (June 2004). You can also download the APG Access to Medicine brochure.

The PPRS: APG Submission to the Department of Health PDF
In reply to a consultation paper from the Department of Health on the future of the PPRS, the APG pointed out that, despite the importance and relative success of the pharmaceutical industry in the UK, there had been a major shift in the industry away from Europe and in favour of the US since 1990. The paper set out specific issues of great importance to the industry and stated that renegotiation of the PPRS would provide a chance to explore opportunities for deregulation in the pharmaceutical market. The submission can be read here (October 2003).

Headroom for Innovation in Primary Care PDF
The UK government has committed itself to a major, sustained increase in funding for the National Health Service (NHS). There is great public interest in seeing how the extra billions are being spent, and how much extra or better health care they are buying. The rate of uptake of innovative technologies, including medicines, has so far been slower in the UK than in the US and numerous other countries. Will this change? (September 2003).

The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme PDF
Read the response by the APG to the discussion paper on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme issued by the Department of Health, September 2003.

APG submission to the Health Select Committee inquiry into NICE PDF
The Health Select Committee of the House of Commons announced its inquiry into the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in November 2001, and published its report in June 2002. The APG's written submission to the inquiry can be read here (January 2002).

New and Future Directions PDF
New and Future Directions puts forward ideas for the successful development of the NHS in the medium and long-term. In particular, it calls for the Government to put emphasis on the implementation of health policies and to overcome its tradition of therapeutic conservatism, to ensure patients receive access to the best quality care (July 2000).

Our Healthier Nation - Hitting the targets? PDF
Our Healthier Nation - Hitting the targets was published by the APG on the eve of the release of the Government's public health White Paper, Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation. It highlights the contribution that modern medicines can make to hitting the targets to be set in the White Paper (June 1999).