I, am concerned to hear allegations that some pharmaceutical companies have been using a legal loophole in order to charge exorbitant rates for medicines.
The National Health Service is our most cherished public service and my SNP colleagues – both in Holyrood and Westminster – will never stop trying to make Scotland’s NHS better. It is vital therefore that money stays within our NHS and companies are not given the opportunity to exploit loopholes to drain funds that are needed to deliver quality and safe healthcare.
As you will be aware, the Competition and Markets Authority have been asked to investigate the allegations of exploitation and I understand that five investigations are ongoing into suspected anti-competitive practices in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector.
Once the investigations have concluded, we will review the conclusions and recommendations of the CMA before deciding how to take this matter froward.