15.11.12
Scottish review could lead to wider availability of medicines
A review has been launched into the way drugs are assessed for use in Scotland, which could lead to a wider availability of medicines.
Health secretary Alex Neil announced the review into how the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) looks at the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of new drugs.
If medicine is accepted by the SMC then individual health boards set criteria for prescribing it. The review could lead to new drugs being offered to patients quicker across Scotland.
The review will consider how decisions are implemented locally by NHS Boards and the consistency of approach to individual patient treatment requests.
Neil said: “We know that the Scottish Medicines Consortium is globally respected and has the fastest and most efficient medicine review process anywhere in the UK.
“Some clinicians, charities and patients have, though, raised concerns about access to medicines, so it is only right that we look at ways that we could potentially improve access arrangements.
“Scotland’s NHS is renowned as being at the forefront of new technologies and innovation – I want to make sure that the same is true of access to new medicines.”
Margaret Watt, chairwoman of Scotland Patients’ Association, said: “Patients will be relieved this review is taking place. There is growing frustration among patients in Scotland that too many drugs are being denied to them, yet they are widely and easily available in other parts of the UK.
“This review has the potential to end the postcode lottery on access to potentially life-saving treatments that many patients have had to put up with for years.”
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