Tories Pledge to Fund Cancer Drugs Rejected by Nice

Strategic Insights -

The Conservative Party has announced plans to provide cancer sufferers in England with access to drugs rejected by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice), citing the £200m savings from scrapping Labour's planned 1 per cent rise in National Insurance. The proposed Cancer Drugs Fund would be established in 2011 and would cover cancer medicines licensed since 2005, provided a doctor recommends them for their patient, even if the treatment does not have Nice approval. This move aims to address concerns that Britain is lagging behind other European countries in giving cancer patients longer, happier lives. David Cameron emphasized that the decision would benefit thousands of people who currently do not have access to certain cancer drugs that their doctors recommend.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Conservative Party plans to establish a Cancer Drugs Fund in 2011 to provide access to cancer medicines rejected by Nice.
  • The fund will be worth £200m, sourced from the savings generated by scrapping Labour's 1 per cent National Insurance increase.
  • The fund will cover cancer medicines licensed since 2005, provided a doctor recommends them for their patient.
  • The decision aims to address concerns that Britain is lagging behind other European countries in giving cancer patients longer, happier lives.
  • David Cameron stated that thousands of people currently do not have access to cancer drugs that their doctors recommend.
  • The proposed fund will benefit patients by providing them with access to life-saving treatments.

Statistics:

  • £200m: The value of the proposed Cancer Drugs Fund.
  • 1 per cent: The planned increase in National Insurance that would be scrapped to fund the Cancer Drugs Fund.
  • 2011: The year in which the Cancer Drugs Fund is proposed to be established.
  • 2005: The year from which cancer medicines would be eligible for coverage under the Cancer Drugs Fund.
  • Thousands: The number of people who currently do not have access to cancer drugs recommended by their doctors.

Sources:

  • Independent Television News Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
  • Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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