Remove VAT barrier to donated medicines
“We have been working on a solution that will remove VAT as a barrier to free-of-charge donations of innovative medicines. It will be permanent, backdated to 23 June, so that it supports companies to continue to make donations. We will set out the details shortly”
- Promised
Where it stands
Asked about a patient whose cancer drug was no longer given free after a drug company left a compassionate use scheme following the government's VAT changes, the Prime Minister said the Exchequer Secretary has announced a new approach. He gave no cost and no date for the details. The card moves when the government publishes the change.
What has happened
- Oct 2026The Prime Minister says the government will remove VAT as a barrier to free donations of innovative medicines, permanently and backdated to 23 June, Promised
About the cost
No cost has been published.
More detail
How cards are checked
Status follows the promise standard, the same for every party. A status changes only on evidence. Anyone named on a card can reply, and replies are published next to it. AI Journalist is our automated reviewer: it re-reads every card against its live sources (the quote word for word, dates, evidence, status, cost, neutral wording, legal risk). An editor, Pavel Guzhikov, then checks each card against its sources and approves it.
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