Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms currently allow local authority-commissioned services, including treatment services funded through the Public Health Grant, to access nationally negotiated NHS commercial prices for pharmaceuticals; how frequently those mechanisms are used; and what is the total value of pharmaceuticals purchased by local authorities at nationally negotiated NHS prices in the most recent financial year for which data is available.

Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment services according to local need, including the provision of pharmaceuticals such as methadone and long-acting injectable buprenorphine.

From 2026/27, funding for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery is provided through the Department’s ringfenced Public Health Grant. The Department encourages local authorities to prioritise appropriate investment in evidence-based interventions and treatments.

National Health Service commercial arrangements for pharmaceuticals are primarily established to support the procurement of medicines for NHS-funded services. The Department has no current plans to establish separate national commercial agreements specifically for pharmaceuticals used in Public Health Grant-funded substance misuse services. We continue to work with NHS England and local authority partners to consider opportunities to improve access to effective treatments and secure value for money.

The Department supports interventions to expand the provision of long-acting injectable buprenorphine. We are currently undertaking further analysis to understand cost-effectiveness, developing clinical guidance, and considering options to expand access further.