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NHS patients could face wait to access life-saving drugs NHS patients could face wait to access life-saving drugs
(35 minutes later)
Patients could face delays accessing drugs on the NHS after health bosses agreed that the most expensive treatments can be stalled.Patients could face delays accessing drugs on the NHS after health bosses agreed that the most expensive treatments can be stalled.
Even when a drug has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) – which already has strict rules on affordability – bosses at NHS England can now slow down its delivery to patients.Even when a drug has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) – which already has strict rules on affordability – bosses at NHS England can now slow down its delivery to patients.
The move applies to any drugs that are expected to cost £20m or more in any of the first three years of their rollout across the NHS. This could apply to cheaper drugs that will be used by hundreds of thousands of people or very expensive drugs used by a small number of people. Drugs used to treat a range of conditions, including diabetes or cancer, could be affected. The move applies to any drugs that are expected to cost £20m or more in any of the first three years of their rollout across the NHS.
This could apply to cheaper drugs that will be used by hundreds of thousands of people or very expensive drugs used by a small number of people. Drugs used to treat a range of conditions, including diabetes or cancer, could be affected.
Under the move, NHS England can ask Nice to extend the amount of time the NHS has to bring the drug in for all patients – in some cases for three years. At present, the NHS has 90 days to make Nice-approved drugs available.Under the move, NHS England can ask Nice to extend the amount of time the NHS has to bring the drug in for all patients – in some cases for three years. At present, the NHS has 90 days to make Nice-approved drugs available.
The new system also means NHS England and drug firms will have more time to discuss potentially lowering the cost of the drugs.The new system also means NHS England and drug firms will have more time to discuss potentially lowering the cost of the drugs.
Charities have objected to the move and also worry that NHS England will try to restrict access to certain groups of patients.Charities have objected to the move and also worry that NHS England will try to restrict access to certain groups of patients.
Sarah Woolnough, Cancer Research UK’s executive director of policy and information, said: “If Nice thinks a cancer treatment is clinically effective and represents value for money, then patients should receive it without delay.Sarah Woolnough, Cancer Research UK’s executive director of policy and information, said: “If Nice thinks a cancer treatment is clinically effective and represents value for money, then patients should receive it without delay.
“A system that could add up to a three-year delay before patients can access treatments deemed clinically and cost effective is unacceptable. Cancer patients may lose their lives whilst they wait. We need to decide whether we want a world class health system in the UK, and if so we need to pay for it. “A system that could add up to a three-year delay before patients can access treatments deemed clinically and cost effective is unacceptable.
“Cancer patients may lose their lives while they wait. We need to decide whether we want a world-class health system in the UK, and if so we need to pay for it.
“Manufacturers should be encouraged to price drugs responsibly, but we hope the government will reconsider the introduction of this new test, otherwise it will be patients, their families and carers who could pay the heaviest price.”“Manufacturers should be encouraged to price drugs responsibly, but we hope the government will reconsider the introduction of this new test, otherwise it will be patients, their families and carers who could pay the heaviest price.”
Mike Thompson, the chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: “Today’s proposals from Nice/NHS England break the Conservative party’s 2015 manifesto promise to speed up the introduction of cost-effective medicines into the NHS. Mike Thompson, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: “Today’s proposals from Nice/NHS England break the Conservative party’s 2015 manifesto promise to speed up the introduction of cost-effective medicines into the NHS.
“Thousands of patients will wait longer for treatment for conditions like heart disease, cancers and diabetes while medicines which stand to benefit the most people are caught up in the system.“Thousands of patients will wait longer for treatment for conditions like heart disease, cancers and diabetes while medicines which stand to benefit the most people are caught up in the system.
“Use of new medicines in the UK is already poor with patients seven times more likely to get a newly launched medicine in places like Germany or France.” “Use of new medicines in the UK is already poor, with patients seven times more likely to get a newly launched medicine in places like Germany or France.”
Sir Andrew Dillon, the Nice chief executive, said: “We hope, and we think it is perfectly possible, that for some treatments which exceed the £20m budget impact in their first three years, there will be commercial agreements between companies and NHS England which will at least minimise and in some cases avoid completely the need for any delay for access for patients.Sir Andrew Dillon, the Nice chief executive, said: “We hope, and we think it is perfectly possible, that for some treatments which exceed the £20m budget impact in their first three years, there will be commercial agreements between companies and NHS England which will at least minimise and in some cases avoid completely the need for any delay for access for patients.
“Even where there is a delay beyond the standard 90 days, NHS England have committed to ensuring that there is some funding available to provide access throughout the phased implementation period.” “Even where there is a delay beyond the standard 90 days, NHS England has committed to ensuring that there is some funding available to provide access throughout the phased implementation period.”
He said the move would be reviewed in three years to see what impact it is having on allowing access to new drugs.He said the move would be reviewed in three years to see what impact it is having on allowing access to new drugs.
NHS England’s acting director for specialised commissioning, John Stewart, said it was “committed to working closely with companies that are willing to price their products responsibly”. He said the “new flexibility will help us develop innovative win/win/win agreements – good for patients, good for taxpayers and good for those companies that are willing to price responsibly”. NHS England’s acting director for specialised commissioning, John Stewart, said it was “committed to working closely with companies that are willing to price their products responsibly”.
Other changes agreed by the Nice board include the introduction of a new fast-track option for treatments which cost less than £10,000 a year of good quality of life to patients. The upper end of Nice’s standard threshold range is £20-30,000 per year. The new fast-track will mean cheaper treatments go through the appraisal process in six months rather than nine. He said the “new flexibility will help us develop innovative win/win/win agreements – good for patients, good for taxpayers and good for those companies that are willing to price responsibly”.
Other changes agreed by the Nice board include the introduction of a new fast-track option for treatments which cost less than £10,000 per year of good quality of life to patients.
The upper end of Nice’s standard threshold range is £20-30,000 per year. The new fast-tracking will mean cheaper treatments go through the appraisal process in six months rather than nine.