Leading cancer experts have pleaded with the Prime Minister
to prevent NHS plans which they say could deny life-extending drugs to
thousands of dying patients.
Fifteen major charities have written to David Cameron, expressing
"deep concern" and imploring him to order a review of changes to drugs
rationing, which they say will set the country back almost two decades.
Under the plans, due to be introduced in July, only drugs authorized
by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) will
receive NHS funding.
A separate Cancer Drugs Fund, launched following a Tory 2010 manifesto pledge, has ensured treatment for thousands more patients whose treatments were rejected by Nice.
Charities say the new system will mean a return wholesale rationing,
with patients “cruelly denied” treatment which is routinely funded in
much of the Western world.
“Not a single breast cancer drug has been considered cost-effective by Nice in the last seven years!”
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