Citation
Morris, B. (2001), "National differences in funding for cancer drugs", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 14 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2001.06214aab.014
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
National differences in funding for cancer drugs
National differences in funding for cancer drugs
A nationwide survey of cancer service provision, carried out by the Campaign for Effective and Rational Treatment (CERT) on behalf of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer has shown differences between Health Authorities in the funding allocated to life-saving cancer drugs.
The survey questioned lead clinicians in all the 143 NHS oncology centres, units and specialist facilities in the UK. The survey is still ongoing, and as yet the evidence is still preliminary. However, one of the most significant findings is that one in three health authorities cannot afford to provide Taxane, the new drug for breast cancer. The preliminary findings reveal that, four months after the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), issued guidelines intended to ensure equal access to Taxane drugs, funding is still inadequate. Oncology departments in many hospitals are forced to meet the shortfall from their own budgets, and one in nine health authorities has redirected budgets for other tumour types to supplement cash for Taxane drugs.
Dr Ian Gibson MP Chair of the All-party Parliamentary Group on Cancer, said:
It is clear that in some areas doctors are still struggling to find money to pay for essential cancer drugs. We learn that it could be the start of their next financial year before some health authorities get their act together even though they were told to make it an urgent priority. This is simply indefensible.
He also said that the government has made a tremendous effort to improve cancer services in the UK, such as increasing the number of specialists, implementing a National Cancer Plan and appointing a National Cancer Director. He also pointed to the substantial increase in NHS funding following the budget in March.
David Turner, Director of CERT, reported that while some authorities are making attempts to meet the basic costs of cancer drugs, other support services, such as nursing, are not being met. He also expressed concern over the questions such findings raise about whether this is the case for all cancer drugs. NICE is currently appraising another 14 cancer drugs on which it is due to report between March and July, 2000.