Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Encourage other countries to introduce antibiotic subscription models by disseminating UK evaluation results
Recommendation
The government deserves credit for introducing an antibiotic subscription model, and it now needs to evaluate its impact on the usage of antibiotics and pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to bring new antibiotics to the market. The UK was one of the first countries to develop a subscription model, under which pharmaceutical companies are paid a flat-rate subscription for recently-licensed antibiotics. The first round of contracts is expected to cost £1.9 billion over 16 years. This is intended to encourage investment in developing new antibiotics while also facilitating reductions in their use. However, the UK is only 3% of the global market for antibiotics and pharmaceutical companies will remain free to decide whether to invest more in research and development of new antibiotics. However, as part of Government funding of the subscription model, we would expect these companies to do so. recommendation The Government should encourage other countries to introduce an antibiotic subscription model, including by disseminating the results of its monitoring and evaluation of the UK model. The evaluation should include an assessment of the impact on pharmaceutical companies’ focus on developing new antibiotics.
Government Response Summary
The government commits to encouraging other countries to adopt an antibiotic subscription model through forums like the G7 and G20 and by sharing UK learnings. It has commissioned an evaluability assessment from July 2025 to early 2026, which will inform a future evaluation on the model's impact on antibiotic innovation, and will publish assessment scores from Spring 2026.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation government continues to encourage other countries to pilot and implement pull incentives for antimicrobial products, including via the G7 and G20, to achieve the desired impact on global R&D antibiotic innovation. The government is fostering technical exchange with like-minded countries and sharing UK learnings. This includes participation of workshops and international working groups, such as those hosted by the Global AMR R&D Hub - advocating for partnership working between industry and public sector. Working with independent researchers at the NIHR Policy Innovation and Evaluation Research Unit, DHSC has commissioned an evaluability assessment which will take place from July 2025 to early 2026 to assess the quality of data that is available and inform a future evaluation. A future evaluation would investigate the impact of the model on key aspects of antibiotic innovation and distribution, including the pipeline for new antibiotics and the supply chain of antibiotics. In the interim, the government is committed to publishing as much material in the public domain about the UK subscription model as possible. This includes the assessment scores for each product that receives a contract, from Spring 2026, to facilitate the evaluation of the overall scheme.