A warning to the NHS: don't cut spending on medicine There has never been greater potential for science to take on cancer, heart disease, dementia and the other illnesses. Advances in research techniques and technologies mean that treatments can increasingly be targeted towards the individual aspects of a patient and their disease. But that potential can only be unlocked by more sustained investment, not less, in our world-leading pharmaceutical industry. All of which costs money. So how do we find a solution? It's a question to which I have a very clear answer - those who say that cutting the amount we spend on medicines is the obvious solution are wrong. This would be a dangerous and short-sighted approach. Over time, it would hit the health and quality of life of all of us. Our scientists at Pfizer are among the best in the world. But, while we and the rest of the industry are working to make the processes as efficient as possible, it can still take 13 years to develop a breakthrough into a medicine that can be given to patients. Many fail along the way and the process is costly. The estimated cost of developing a medicine is £1.2bn. You can see the scale of the problem we face. I want medicines to be seen as part of the solution, not the problem. And there is an answer. All new medicines have a patent life which expires after a period of time. The NHS will pay less for it from then on. NHS savings from the expiry of those patents should be reinvested, the money put to use making sure that new medicines are made available to UK patients. Britain's national health is not just about clinical well-being. It's also about our economic health. The Government's DNA mapping project, along with its Life Sciences Strategy, shows the UK's determination to remain a world player in health innovation, leading the global race for better tests, better medicines and better care. Our team of UK scientists dedicate their lives to developing promising new treatments in tackling pain, sensory disorders and regenerative medicines. We hire some of the brightest brains of their generation as our scientists and physicians and, rightly, Britain is a true world leader in this industry. It's crucial for the UK economy to maintain that world-leading reputation not just for economic reasons, but also to ensure all of us can get the best treatments available when needed. I completely understand the financial pressures the NHS is under. We want to do all we can to ensure it provides the best possible care for the money available. But it's important to be aware of the facts. The UK already spends less on medicines per person than comparable countries. We are slower to give people access to new treatments. There are new medicines out there to control cancer, for example, which we are much slower to prescribe than would be normal in other European Union countries. Similarly, our cancer survival rates are lower. In England alone, 5,000 lives would be saved every year if we could match the European average on treatment and care. This doubles to 10,000 if we equal the European best. With a focus on improving cancer outcomes, delay can't be right for patients who need to access the very best treatments today. How many of us know that less than £1 of every £10 of our taxes spent by the health service actually goes on medicines? Is that the right balance? We have some of the world's greatest doctors and nurses, but they need the best medicines to win the battle against disease. All this could be put at risk if we fail to recognise where medicines deliver value and drive better outcomes for patients" lives, and the contribution they make to Britain's national health.