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NHS patients in top-up drugs bid NHS patients in top-up drugs bid
(about 3 hours later)
The rules banning patients in Scotland from paying for medicines while accessing NHS services need to be clarified, the health secretary said.The rules banning patients in Scotland from paying for medicines while accessing NHS services need to be clarified, the health secretary said.
Nicola Sturgeon has pledged a review of the guidelines on "co-payments" after a report into the case by Holyrood's petitions committee.Nicola Sturgeon has pledged a review of the guidelines on "co-payments" after a report into the case by Holyrood's petitions committee.
The committee report called for more clarity on whether cancer patients can receive non-NHS drugs.The committee report called for more clarity on whether cancer patients can receive non-NHS drugs.
MSPs are set to debate the issue in the Scottish Parliament later.MSPs are set to debate the issue in the Scottish Parliament later.
The debate follows the case of Michael Gray, 53, from Buckie in Moray, who died in April from bowel cancer and needed the drug cetuximab.The debate follows the case of Michael Gray, 53, from Buckie in Moray, who died in April from bowel cancer and needed the drug cetuximab.
Although licensed in Scotland, it was not approved by NHS Grampian, although it is available on the NHS in Wales.Although licensed in Scotland, it was not approved by NHS Grampian, although it is available on the NHS in Wales.
Ms Sturgeon said: "The principle of NHS care available according to need not the ability to pay is one that I - and all of Scotland - hold dear."Ms Sturgeon said: "The principle of NHS care available according to need not the ability to pay is one that I - and all of Scotland - hold dear."
She pledged a review of the guidelines on "co-payments".She pledged a review of the guidelines on "co-payments".
The health secretary said: "Some things are very clear. As things stand you cannot pay the NHS to access care which would not otherwise be available and there are no plans to change that principle.The health secretary said: "Some things are very clear. As things stand you cannot pay the NHS to access care which would not otherwise be available and there are no plans to change that principle.
"The question here is that if someone exercises their right to access some of their care in the private sector, to what extent should they be able to get the rest of their care on the NHS?""The question here is that if someone exercises their right to access some of their care in the private sector, to what extent should they be able to get the rest of their care on the NHS?"
Ms Sturgeon said the rules needed to be clear to prevent decisions being taken on a "case-by-case basis".Ms Sturgeon said the rules needed to be clear to prevent decisions being taken on a "case-by-case basis".
"There are some situations where the care that a patient is getting is so interwoven that you could not separate out the element to be provided privately from the elements to be provided on the NHS, without compromising patient safety and good clinical governance," she said."There are some situations where the care that a patient is getting is so interwoven that you could not separate out the element to be provided privately from the elements to be provided on the NHS, without compromising patient safety and good clinical governance," she said.
"There are other cases where that might not be the case and concurrent private and NHS treatment might be possible.""There are other cases where that might not be the case and concurrent private and NHS treatment might be possible."