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'Top-up' NHS drugs to be reviewed

17/06/2008

Policy relating to 'top-up' drugs for cancer patients receiving NHS treatment is to be reviewed, the health secretary has announced.

Alan Johnson told MPs this afternoon that he has asked Professor Mike Richards, national clinical director for cancer, to assess policy for patients who choose to pay privately for drugs not funded on the NHS.

Under current policy patients cannot receive the basic package of NHS care as well as paying for expensive drugs.

The issue has reached headlines after a number of patients were banned from NHS care after they chose to pay for drugs denied to them on the NHS.

The review will make recommendations taking into account the importance of enabling patients to have choice and personal control over their healthcare as well as the need to uphold the founding principle of the NHS that treatment is based on clinical need not ability to pay, and to ensure that NHS services are fair to both patients and taxpayers.

It is expected to be concluded in October.

Professor Richards said he welcomed the opportunity to lead the review.

"This is a complex and sensitive issue and I would urge all interested parties, particularly patients, to share their views with me," he added.

"We want to do everything we can for seriously ill patients who wish to explore every avenue to treat their condition, while upholding the founding principle of the NHS that treatment is based on clinical need not ability to pay."

Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said the charity welcomed the review.

"We look forward to working with Professor Richards on this vitally important issue for cancer patients. On the one hand we need to safeguard the fundamental principle of equal access to NHS care, free at the point of use, regardless of ability to pay.

"But we need to find a way to respect patients' rights to use whatever resources they have to try to extend their lives provided they get proper clinical advice."