This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Scots refused breast cancer drug available in England
The body that approves drugs for use by the NHS in Scotland has been criticised after it has rejected a breast cancer drug for the third time due to its high cost.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), who are responsible for approving such drugs, said that the drug Perjeta was ‘very expensive’ and it did not believe that it would be a ‘good use of limited NHS resources’ even though it is said to extend life between a year and 16 months.
Many campaigners have called the decision ‘bitterly disappointing’, especially since the drug is already available to patients in England.
Dr Alan MacDonald, chairman of the SMC, said: “We know this decision will be disappointing to patients and their families as we understand how devastating breast cancer can be. However, when we make our decisions we have to take account of the needs of all patients who require treatment by NHS Scotland, not just those who would benefit from the medicine under consideration.”
The committee has however accepted two new drugs for the treatment of incurable kidney cancer which have been shown to extend the lives of kidney cancer sufferers by several months compared to existing therapies.
Nivolumab and cabozantinib were accepted after being reviewed by the SMC, drugs which Dr MacDonald calls ‘valuable additions to the treatment currently available for patients with terminal renal cancer’.
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
