Leading cancer charity want the NHS to look at how it decides on which life-saving medicines to prescribe
A leading health charity has called for reform in the way medicines are assessed for the NHS in Scotland.
The call comes after the drug everolimus (Afinitor) gained approval from the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) for use on the NHS after being considered twice under the latest system, causing a six month delay for patients.
Everolimus (Afinitor), which can delay the need for chemotherapy by up to six months for patients with secondary breast cancer, boosts the effectiveness of hormone treatment by blocking a certain protein that is associated with cancer cell growth.
As part of a package of proposals for reform, Breast Cancer Now called for a mechanism to be introduced in the negotiation process to allow more robust discussions with drug companies to secure the best deal for patients and the NHS.
Women with incurable secondary breast cancer don’t have time to wait - Mary Allison
Mary Allison, director for Scotland at Breast Cancer Now, said: “Breast Cancer Now welcomes the fact that women with secondary breast cancer in Scotland will now have more treatment options. However, we should have got to this point much earlier in the process.
“This is a treatment that has been considered twice under the latest SMC system. This means that patients have been waiting longer to get access to this drug.
“Women with incurable secondary breast cancer don’t have time to wait. That’s why we need to reform how we assess new drugs in Scotland to make sure drug companies and the SMC come up with the best deal and make the right decision first time around."
The charity also suggests more flexible decision-making as well as the involvement of patients and relevant expert clinicians at the final decision making meeting could make a significant contribution to unlocking new treatments for patients in Scotland.
Allison added: “We have clear plans to help achieve this and hope that the review that is underway on the issue will help get the best system to unlock drugs for women with secondary breast cancer in Scotland.”
