Stephen Whitehead said:
“I want to welcome Jeremy Hunt into his new role as Secretary of State for Health and offer my sincerest thanks for Andrew Lansley's tireless work at the Department of Health (DH).
"The NHS is highly regarded both here in the UK and around the world and Jeremy Hunt MP will face a number of challenges in not only safeguarding its short term success, but its long term future.
“An on-going challenge will be to ensure that the NHS performs better at getting the latest medicines to patients, because as it stands, people still are not able to access many of the most innovative treatments which are available on the continent. Industry will also continue to work closely with the DH to design a pricing system that provides a good deal for taxpayers, whilst ensuring a healthy and productive environment for companies to research and develop the medicines of the future."
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Notes to editors
The ABPI represents innovative research-based biopharmaceutical companies, large, medium and small, leading an exciting new era of biosciences in the UK.
Our industry, a major contributor to the economy of the UK, brings life-saving and life-enhancing medicines to patients. Our members supply 90 per cent of all medicines used by the NHS, and are researching and developing over two-thirds of the current medicines pipeline, ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of helping patients prevent and overcome diseases.
The ABPI is recognised by government as the industry body negotiating on behalf of the branded pharmaceutical industry, for statutory consultation requirements including the pricing scheme for medicines in the UK.