Breast cancer patients denied life-prolonging drugs are missing out on a final Christmas with their loved ones, charities warn.
The Nice regulator confirmed yesterday that its new criteria for determining the cost-effectiveness of drugs for the NHS will be maintained, following a review.
These policies give greater weight to medicines for the most serious diseases, whereas the previous focus was on end-of-life treatment.
Campaigners say the changes led to Enhertu being rejected on cost grounds earlier this year, despite it being available in Scotland and across Europe.
Charities warn that breast cancer patients denied life-prolonging drugs are missing out on a last Christmas with loved ones (file photo)
The Nice regulator confirmed yesterday that its new criteria for determining the cost-effectiveness of drugs for the NHS will be maintained, following a review (file photo)
Nice concluded that the new “severity modifier” works as intended and allows more drugs to be recommended for serious, often lifelong, conditions on the NHS.
He said a higher proportion of medicines have been granted since its introduction: 84.4 percent, compared with 82.7 percent under the old measures.
The change, they said, also means positive recommendations for treatments for cystic fibrosis and chronic hepatitis.
But Claire Rowney, of Breast Cancer Now, called the decision a “missed opportunity” to offer help to people with breast cancer.
She added: “They are faced with the heartbreaking reality of continuing to be denied access to this treatment, and it could make all the difference to them being there to enjoy another Christmas with their loved ones.”
Enhertu was rejected on cost grounds earlier this year, despite being available in Scotland and across Europe.
This comes as more than 300,000 cancer patients will face delays in treatment over the next five years unless the Government improves NHS performance, new analysis suggests.
Cancer Research UK estimates there will be 17.2 million urgent referrals for suspected cancer in England over the next five years and by 2029 there will be a fifth more than last year alone.
The charity analysed the current NHS waiting time target, which says 85 per cent of cancer patients should start treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral – a target that has not been met since 2015.
In the first six months of this year, 65.9 percent of cancer patients in England were treated within the target timeframe, meaning more than 30,000 patients did not start treatment on time, it was found.
The charity estimates that between now and 2029, more than 301,000 people will have missed out on timely treatment, while the number of urgent referrals for suspected cancer will rise by a fifth, from 3.1 million in 2023 to around 3.75 million.
The charity said the NHS is caring for more patients than ever before, but an ageing and growing population means there are record numbers of cancer cases.
Cancer Research UK also says patients were waiting too long to be diagnosed in the first place, with a lack of staff and sufficient diagnostic equipment being a major problem.