Up to half the medicines available through the Cancer Drug Fund could be ruled too costly to be given to patients.
Prostate Cancer UK was concerned that the existence of the fund acted as a “perverse incentive” for the drugs companies to keep prices high because it reduced the pressure to make them affordable.
An average of £13,500 is spent on each of the 55,000 patients whose treatment has been funded by the scheme but some of the drugs cost much more. The most expensive is Kadcyla which costs £90,000 per patient. Patients already receiving drugs will continue to get them but new patients are likely to find the range of medicines available to them reduced. NHS England hopes the review will force pharmaceutical companies to reduce the costs of some of the drugs. Pharmaceutical companies have come under criticism recently for the price of some of the cancer drugs they produce and the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer has launched a campaign to get them to set “fair prices”.
What is a 'fair' price for prolonging life or enhancing the quality of it during illness?
Caitlin Palframan, senior policy manager, saying the emphasis for cost-effectiveness changes the nature of the Cancer Drug Fund. She said: “We're deeply concerned that several very effective breast cancer drugs appear on the list of drugs at risk of delisting due to their high price.
Prostate Cancer UK was concerned that the existence of the fund acted as a “perverse incentive” for the drugs companies to keep prices high because it reduced the pressure to make them affordable.
An average of £13,500 is spent on each of the 55,000 patients whose treatment has been funded by the scheme but some of the drugs cost much more. The most expensive is Kadcyla which costs £90,000 per patient. Patients already receiving drugs will continue to get them but new patients are likely to find the range of medicines available to them reduced. NHS England hopes the review will force pharmaceutical companies to reduce the costs of some of the drugs. Pharmaceutical companies have come under criticism recently for the price of some of the cancer drugs they produce and the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer has launched a campaign to get them to set “fair prices”.
What is a 'fair' price for prolonging life or enhancing the quality of it during illness?
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