- Pfizer CEO says England is one of the worst countries for cancer care
- Survival rates in England lag 10 years behind others European countries
- English patients are denied drugs available elsewhere – such as in Scotland
- Says radical reform to the system for approving drugs is needed
Sian Boyle for the Day-to-day Mail
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The UK boss of one of the world’s biggest drug companies has actually said he would certainly ‘not hope to be a cancer patient in England’.
Erik Nordkamp, managing director of Pfizer UK, said England already had one of the poorest outcomes for cancer patients among the OECD club of rich nations.
And he said that England is likewise one of the worst countries on the planet – otherwise the worst – for obtaining breakthrough drugs to those that necessity them.
Cancer survival rates in Britain lag much more compared to 10 years behind those in several others European countries.
Even for breast cancer – one of the most treatable forms of the ailment – the figures are still well right here those reached by France, Sweden and Italy in the late 1990s.
Erik Nordkamp, managing director of Pfizer UK, said he would certainly ‘not hope to be a cancer patient in England’ as a result of a lack of breakthrough drugs available for those that necessity them
Last year Macmillan Cancer Support described the situation as ‘shameful’ and warned also several patients are dying needlessly right here once they would certainly survive had they been treated elsewhere in Europe.
Mr Nordkamp’s comments to the Telegraph are gained as the 12-week consultation on the cancer drugs fund closes today.
The fund, which allows patients access to breakthrough cancer drugs, was established in 2011 as a temporary measure until a brand-new approach was located – and expires in April this year.
CANCER DRUGS FUND SHAKE-UP ‘COULD PUT THOUSANDS AT RISK’
Thousands of patients will certainly be put at risk by a shake-up of the Cancer Drugs Fund, experts claim.
From April the medicines rationing physique NICE will certainly have actually the last say over which treatments can easily be offered.
Doctors and campaigners warn this will certainly restrict access to life-saving drugs. NICE has actually a track record for rejecting breakthrough treatments available in others countries and will certainly provide brand-new drugs just two years to prove themselves cost effective.
NHS officials are having to overhaul the scheme – a flagship policy of David Cameron’s – due to the fact that it is over budget and much more patients are coming forward.
They have actually drafted proposals that would certainly turn the fund in to a test run for every one of brand-new cancer treatments.
Each drug will certainly have actually to reveal it extends lives sufficiently, boosts patients’ quality of life and is not also costly. NICE will certainly make the last decision.
Mr Nordkamp said the Government’s proposals on reforming the cancer drugs fund would certainly end up failing patients and ‘set the clock spine 5 years’.
‘If the proposals for the cancer drugs fund go through, we will certainly have actually a repeat of 2011 once treatments weren’t obtaining through to patients and it will certainly be going spine to the status quo,’ he said.
Under the government’s plans, the cancer drugs fund would certainly go on to be overseen by Nice, through NHS England, and would certainly enable patients temporary access to certain breakthrough treatments.
If, after a set period, the evidence collected from the patient group suggests the outcomes aren’t cost-efficient enough, the drug is de-listed.
But Mr Nordkamp believes a finish overhaul to the system is needed, and criticised these proposals as a ‘wasted opportunity’.
‘We sent a letter concerning this to the Prime Minister,’ he said. ‘We are actually concerned that the brand-new proposals are not a solution.’
He explained that while others countries continually adapt their drugs approval framework as technology advances, England’s system of deciding which drugs patients grab access to hasn’t changed in 1six years.
This is problematic due to the fact that it means Nice’s methodology for approving drugs hasn’t kept up along with the advances in medical technology.
NHS officials are having to overhaul the Cancer Drugs Fund scheme – a flagship policy of David Cameron’s – due to the fact that it is over budget, along with so several patients coming forward.
Cancer survival rates in Britain lag much more compared to 10 years behind those in several others European countries. Mr Nordkamp said there must be a finish overhaul of exactly how cancer drugs are approved
But experts claim thousands of patients will certainly be put at risk by a shake-up which will certainly see medicines rationing physique NICE have actually the last say over which treatments can easily be offered.
Mr Nordkamp likewise slammed Nice’s methodology of testing treatments as ‘not suit for purpose’ – due to the fact that our knowing of the nature of cancer has actually changed.
Cancer is not one disease, Yet hundreds of ‘unique diseases’ which require care targeted to the individual patient.
The globe of prescribing one chemotherapy drug to every cancer sufferer is ‘long gone’, he added.
A spokesperson for NHS England said: ‘For those drug companies willing to fee their products affordably while sharing transparent write-up concerning “actual world” patient benefit, the brand-new cancer drugs fund will certainly provide a brand-new fast-monitor route to NHS funding.’
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