Dr Richard Barker, Director General of the ABPI said: “This consultation raises many important questions about how the fund will operate to ensure cancer patients receive the best available medicines. We have been considering a number of the challenges for some time now and look forward to discussing these with the Government over the coming months.”

 

“Some of these challenges include whether the fund should be administered at regional or national level and how to ensure that NHS cancer patients across England have a fair, timely and equal opportunity to benefit from the fund.”

 

“Access to cancer medicines on the NHS is generally lower than access to other medicines and lower when compared to other developed countries. This is particularly the case for new cancer medicines launched within the last five years. The cancer drug fund is an important step towards the Government's goal of providing better access to modern medicines for NHS patients.”

 

-ENDS-

 

Notes to Editors:
The Department of Health consultation document can be found on:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_120834

 

For further information, please contact the ABPI press office: 020 7747 1410.