Prostate Cancer UK is calling for abiraterone to be approved for use by NHS Scotland

A leading charity is calling on the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) to throw a lifeline to men with incurable prostate cancer by approving a life prolonging drug.

Prostate Cancer UK made the call ahead of an SMC meeting on Tuesday (6 January) to decide on whether to approve the drug abiraterone with the decision being seen as a test case for the effectiveness of Scotland’s recently reformed drug appraisal system.

Abiraterone in some cases is seen as a more effective alternative to chemotherapy and far less evasive on patients.

Only a positive decision today will illustrate that things have changed for the better

Although the treatment has not been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for routine use south of the border, it is widely available to patients in England via the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Around 4,500 men have accessed the drug in England via this method since March 2013, illustrating the faith patients and clinicians have in the treatment, says the charity.

Chief executive of Prostate Cancer UK Owen Sharp said: “A great deal of work has been done by the Scottish Government and Holyrood’s health committee to improve access to medicines in Scotland. Central to this was the desire to ensure that the voice of patients is heard.

"Our patient survey - which we have presented to the SMC – shows just how much men with prostate cancer and their loved ones are behind this treatment.

"Only a positive decision today will illustrate that things have changed for the better and that the voice of patients is truly being heard and taken on board.”

The consortium will announce its decision to the public on 9 February.