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Patient groups alarmed by NHS plan to reassess value of cancer drugs NHS plan to reassess value of cancer drugs alarms patient groups
(35 minutes later)
Patient groups have reacted with alarm to plans to reassess the value to the NHS of many cancer drugs, which is likely to mean that some will be phased out because they do not offer value for money.Patient groups have reacted with alarm to plans to reassess the value to the NHS of many cancer drugs, which is likely to mean that some will be phased out because they do not offer value for money.
A board meeting of NHS England has endorsed proposals that will impose much tighter control of spending on cancer drugs, requiring all those that have been reimbursed by the government’s £340m Cancer Drugs Fund to be re-evaluated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). A board meeting of NHS England has endorsed proposals that will impose much tighter control of spending on cancer drugs, requiring all those that have been paid for by the government’s £340m Cancer Drugs Fund to be re-evaluated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).
Of the 47 drug treatments now available through the fund, 23 have already been rejected for general NHS use by Nice in the past because it found they were not sufficiently cost-effective. Of the 47 drug treatments now available through the fund, Nice has already rejected 23 for general NHS use in the past because it found they were not sufficiently cost-effective.
The Rarer Cancers Foundation said the changes would set “cancer treatment back by a generation”. It claimed that nearly 22,000 people would be denied treatment per year.The Rarer Cancers Foundation said the changes would set “cancer treatment back by a generation”. It claimed that nearly 22,000 people would be denied treatment per year.
However, NHS England said this figure was “clearly not right” because it included patients on drugs that were no longer paid for by the fund. “In reality, it is the price pharmaceutical companies charge the NHS that will also often drive whether a drug gets onto the new fund. Patients need the pharmaceutical industry to price their products responsibly,” said a spokesperson. However, NHS England said this figure was “clearly not right” because it included patients on drugs that were no longer paid for by the fund. “In reality, it is the price pharmaceutical companies charge the NHS that will also often drive whether a drug gets on to the new fund. Patients need the pharmaceutical industry to price their products responsibly,” said a spokesperson.
The Cancer Drugs Fund has been continuously overspent. It was launched in 2010 in fulfilment of an election promise by David Cameron, responding to the regular outcry from cancer patient groups when a drug was rejected for NHS use by Nice because it was too expensive and offered insufficient value for money. Nice was given a threshold of around £30,000 for a year of good quality life or £50,000 for a drug at the end of life. Many new cancer drugs are put on the market at prices that are far higher.The Cancer Drugs Fund has been continuously overspent. It was launched in 2010 in fulfilment of an election promise by David Cameron, responding to the regular outcry from cancer patient groups when a drug was rejected for NHS use by Nice because it was too expensive and offered insufficient value for money. Nice was given a threshold of around £30,000 for a year of good quality life or £50,000 for a drug at the end of life. Many new cancer drugs are put on the market at prices that are far higher.
Proposals to reform the fund have been under discussion for some time, but NHS England has now officially adopted a plan that puts Nice at the centre of decision-making. Breast Cancer Now is one of the patient groups that reacted with dismay.Proposals to reform the fund have been under discussion for some time, but NHS England has now officially adopted a plan that puts Nice at the centre of decision-making. Breast Cancer Now is one of the patient groups that reacted with dismay.
“The current CDF proposals unfortunately represent a major relapse for patient access to breast cancer drugs in the UK. It is indefensible that the CDF’s long-awaited successor may actually result in fewer – rather than more – drugs being made available to patients,” said Baroness Delyth Morgan, Breast Cancer Now’s chief executive.“The current CDF proposals unfortunately represent a major relapse for patient access to breast cancer drugs in the UK. It is indefensible that the CDF’s long-awaited successor may actually result in fewer – rather than more – drugs being made available to patients,” said Baroness Delyth Morgan, Breast Cancer Now’s chief executive.
“These proposals do not offer sufficient reform on the existing Nice appraisal process. With the last six breast cancer drugs to be assessed by Nice being rejected, and with key issues left unaddressed, we’re concerned that clinically proven drugs will continue to struggle for approval on the new fund.”“These proposals do not offer sufficient reform on the existing Nice appraisal process. With the last six breast cancer drugs to be assessed by Nice being rejected, and with key issues left unaddressed, we’re concerned that clinically proven drugs will continue to struggle for approval on the new fund.”
But NHS England took a robust stance, arguing that the new arrangements would put pressure on the companies to lower their prices.But NHS England took a robust stance, arguing that the new arrangements would put pressure on the companies to lower their prices.
“The Cancer Drugs Fund has helped thousands of people and we are determined to respond to the demands of parliament, and the cancer care community, that we put it on sustainable footing for the future,” said a spokesperson.“Under these measures, patients will get faster access to the most promising new cancer treatments and tax payers will get better value from drugs expenditure.“Drug companies will need to price their drugs responsibly and we make no apology for maintaining the pressure on this point on behalf of the public. Companies keen to work with the NHS for patients will get a new fast-track route to NHS funding for promising new drugs, backed by a speeded up and more transparent Nice assessment process.” “The Cancer Drugs Fund has helped thousands of people and we are determined to respond to the demands of parliament, and the cancer care community, that we put it on sustainable footing for the future,” said a spokesperson.
“Under these measures, patients will get faster access to the most promising new cancer treatments and tax payers will get better value from drugs expenditure.
“Drug companies will need to price their drugs responsibly and we make no apology for maintaining the pressure on this point on behalf of the public. Companies keen to work with the NHS for patients will get a new fast-track route to NHS funding for promising new drugs, backed by a speeded up and more transparent Nice assessment process.”
While the smaller patient groups voiced alarm, Cancer Research UK supported the new plan. “Cancer Research UK welcomes today’s decision to move forward with reforms to how the NHS makes certain cancer drugs available to patients. We see this as a positive step in creating a more sustainable and flexible system,” said Sir Harpal Kumar, its chief executive.While the smaller patient groups voiced alarm, Cancer Research UK supported the new plan. “Cancer Research UK welcomes today’s decision to move forward with reforms to how the NHS makes certain cancer drugs available to patients. We see this as a positive step in creating a more sustainable and flexible system,” said Sir Harpal Kumar, its chief executive.
“Importantly, we believe the proposals will bring more certainty to patients and doctors about the drugs that can be prescribed, and swifter access to promising drugs.”“Importantly, we believe the proposals will bring more certainty to patients and doctors about the drugs that can be prescribed, and swifter access to promising drugs.”