Cancer drugs 'postcode lottery'
11 August 2008 17:15
Access to the latest cancer drugs is a postcode lottery, according to research from a charity.
In some areas of the country, every exceptional request for a cancer drug which is not usually funded is granted - and in other areas none at all. The figures were obtained by the Rarer Cancers Forum under the Freedom of Information Act, but relate to all types of cancer. They asked each primary care trust how many requests for cancer drugs were heard by its exceptions panel, which considers whether to fund a drug because of special circumstances, and how many were turned down.
On average 26pc were turned down - but in Norfolk and Yarmouth and Waveney, which share the same exceptions procedure, the figure was 34pc. Across the country the figure varied from zero to 100pc.
In Norfolk between October 2006 and April 2008, 42 cases were agreed by the exceptions panel - but in Suffolk it was just 12. Cambridgeshire funded 39 over a slightly shorter time period, between January 2007 and April 2008.
A request can only go to an exceptions panel if the doctor involved believes it will benefit the patient. Usually it is for an expensive drug not approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), or not yet assessed.
But the figures are not easy to compare, because some areas may have a more generous routine policy, resulting in fewer exceptions cases, or may discourage consultants from applying to the panel. The research was funded by drugs company Roche.
The EDP has reported how David Blackett, from Bunwell, near Attleborough, has been denied the drug sunitinib for his kidney cancer. His life-extending treatment is currently being paid for by his wife's work health insurance. And Barry Humphrey, from North Walsham, is about to start his liver cancer treatment with sorafenib - but only after the decision of the original exceptions panel was criticised by Suffolk PCT.
Cancer drugs campaigner Kate Spall, from Chester, who has worked with Mr Humphrey and other local patients, said: “The system in Norfolk is unfair and very difficult for patients to understand. They are rejecting high numbers of people.”
Alistair Lipp, director of public health for Yarmouth and Waveney PCT, said: “It is difficult to compare because the procedures and policies are different across the country.
“The exceptions panel does not look at whether the treatment is clinically effective - it would not come to the panel unless it was - but whether the individual's case is exceptional. In some ways I am surprised that the number of cases being granted is as high as it is.”
A Norfolk PCT spokesman said: “We are responsible for a finite health budget and where there is no specific national guidance we have to decide locally how to use these funds to best meet the health needs of our local population. It is therefore inevitable that there will be some differences in treatments funded between PCTs around the UK.
“To reduce any localised disparity, we established the joint exceptions panel with Yarmouth and Waveney PCT and we keep in close contact with neighbouring PCTs in the East of England.”
