The controversial NHS reforms are expected to cost £300m more than was previously expected, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.

The fallout from the Health and Social Care Act is now believed to have cost in the region of between £1.5 billion and £1.6 billion. Originally, the reforms were estimated to total between £1.2bn and £1.3bn.

Ironically, the increase comes at a time when the NHS is tasked with making £20bn of efficiency savings.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt revealed the additional £300m reform costs in a written statement to the House of Commons.

The Act, which was passed through Parliament in March this year, has been formally opposed by a number of high profile organisations, unions, charities and royal colleges who argued it will increase privatisation within the health service and lower standards of care for patients.

Swiss pharma giant Roche is in dispute with employees of its Polish operation over their use of contract workers for long-term assignments.

The organised protests followed the dismissal of an employee for publicly complaining about Roche’s employment practices.

The protesters argued that Roche is trying to casualise its workforce, avoiding such expenses as annual and sick leave and redundancy payments.

In addition, workers’ groups claimed, the company circumvents the Polish labour code by having people register as self-employed who are in effect on its payroll.

In parts of Europe where most pharmaceutical employees are represented by unions, organised resistance to industry downsizing has been met with some degree of success.

Earlier in January, representatives of the Novartis workforce struck a deal with the company that reversed its decision to shut down a Nyon factory. The negotiations, which included concessions from employees and local authorities, only took place after a one-day strike.

Similarly, a strike at an Organon facility in the Netherlands led to jobs being saved in the summer of 2011, following the company’s acquisition by Merck.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley claims the Government has “fought together” in its efforts to introduce its proposals set out in the Health and Social Care Bill.

Speaking to delegates at the Conservative Party Conference, the Health Secretary says he has battled against criticism from Labour and left-wing unions who have misunderstood his plans.

Mr Lansley said there had been “misinterpretation, misinformation and misrepresentation” about the Bill but the reforms remain “the right thing to do” for a better NHS.

He admitted that brining change has “not been easy” and the Government has always been“absolutely clear” over its plans.

“We are committed to the values of the NHS,” the Health Secretary said. “To a comprehensive, high-quality service for all, free at the point of use and based on need, not ability to pay. The Health Bill will safeguard those values.”

The Bill will also “improve quality, reduce health inequalities, empower patients and staff, improve local accountability and strengthen public health services”, he added.

The Health Secretary said to “reassure people” that the Bill is right for patients and the NHS, the Government consulted “the country’s top experts”, the NHS Future Forum, to address concerns and offer their recommendations. He said that amendments have now been made “so that competition is on quality, not price; to ensure the continuity of services for patients; to support education and training; and to strengthen integrated care”.

He ended his address by outlining his and the Prime Minister’s commitment to the NHS. “While I am Secretary of State, the NHS will never be fragmented, privatised or undermined. I am personally committed to an NHS which gives equal access, and excellent care.”

The NHS reforms have faced a continual wall of criticism, its most recent from the BMA, which said that the Bill “poses an unacceptably high risk to the NHS in England”.