A Bill to require the Secretary of State to take steps to secure licences for off-patent drugs in new indications; to require the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to conduct technology appraisals for off-patent drugs in new indications; and for connected purposes.
House of Commons
30 March 2015
The Off-patent Drugs Bill would require the government to take steps to secure licences for off-patent (generic) medicines to be used for new medical indications. It would also require NICE to carry out technology appraisals of these off-patent drugs in new indications, so the NHS can decide whether to fund them. In short, it aims to widen the use of existing medicines and base funding decisions on NICE assessments.
The bill is at the second reading in the House of Commons. If it progresses, it would move to committee stage and subsequent readings before becoming law (subject to passage in both Houses).
Generated 21 February 2026
The Bill was presented to Parliament through the ballot procedure on 2 July 2014. This is known as the first reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage.
This Bill was stood over at its second reading on 7 November 2014 because fewer than 40 MPs were present.
The 2014-15 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
