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BMA chief against private drugs BMA chief against private drugs
(about 4 hours later)
Patients who pay for drugs not offered by the NHS should be denied free health care, the head of the British Medical Association (BMA) has said.Patients who pay for drugs not offered by the NHS should be denied free health care, the head of the British Medical Association (BMA) has said.
Dr Hamish Meldrum told the Sunday Telegraph that rules preventing people from combining free NHS care with paid-for drugs should be maintained.Dr Hamish Meldrum told the Sunday Telegraph that rules preventing people from combining free NHS care with paid-for drugs should be maintained.
He stressed his views were personal, but said "top-up payments" went against the sort of NHS ethos he believed in.He stressed his views were personal, but said "top-up payments" went against the sort of NHS ethos he believed in.
The BMA will vote on the issue at its annual conference in Edinburgh later.The BMA will vote on the issue at its annual conference in Edinburgh later.
'Gut instinct''Gut instinct'
Dr Meldrum said: "My gut instinct is that this goes against the sort of NHS I believe in, which is free at the point of use, fair and equitable to all."Dr Meldrum said: "My gut instinct is that this goes against the sort of NHS I believe in, which is free at the point of use, fair and equitable to all."
Currently, anyone who pays for any form of private treatment - even drugs unavailable on the NHS - can be barred from the normal package of NHS care. But he added he had "huge sympathy" for the plights of families who have resorted to trying to top up care.
The rule applies across the UK and the Northern Ireland and Wales administrations, but last month the government announced it would review the policy for patients in England. And he said there were other ways of trying to address the issue, including speeding up the way the NHS decided which drugs should be used.
A body called the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) currently reviews treatments for their cost effectiveness for use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but it has faced criticism for the time it has taken to make decisions.
NHS trusts tend not to fund drugs until NICE has made a recommendation.
It's very important that whatever we come up with does not erode one of the core principles of the NHS which is free at the point of need Lord DarziHealth ministerIt's very important that whatever we come up with does not erode one of the core principles of the NHS which is free at the point of need Lord DarziHealth minister
Currently, anyone who pays for any form of private treatment - even drugs unavailable on the NHS - can be barred from the normal package of NHS care.
The rule applies across the UK, but last month the government announced it would review the policy for patients in England.
Scotland has already announced a review, although it is specifically on cancer drugs.Scotland has already announced a review, although it is specifically on cancer drugs.
Health Minister Lord Darzi told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that government would report back on the review in October.Health Minister Lord Darzi told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that government would report back on the review in October.
He said: "It's very important that whatever we come up with does not erode one of the core principles of the NHS which is free at the point of need."He said: "It's very important that whatever we come up with does not erode one of the core principles of the NHS which is free at the point of need."
The issue has come to a head in recent months as a number of cancer patients have been banned from receiving NHS care after topping up their treatment privately.The issue has come to a head in recent months as a number of cancer patients have been banned from receiving NHS care after topping up their treatment privately.
The rules have resulted in some terminally-ill patients being forced to decide whether to pay for health care that would normally be free, or go without drugs that could help extend their lives.The rules have resulted in some terminally-ill patients being forced to decide whether to pay for health care that would normally be free, or go without drugs that could help extend their lives.