Country Correspondent: Molly Fitzgerald
Since the launch of the new Cancer Drugs Fund in July 2016, more than 15,000 patients in England have gained access to 52 new cancer therapies for treating 81 types of cancer. What’s more, a third of these patients received treatments approximately four months sooner than they previously would have. Under the system, new drugs are evaluated faster for effectiveness and safety by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NHS England now also has more direct involvement with the pharmaceutical industry, putting them in a better position to negotiate drug prices based on clinical value. For example, the NHS has already secured discounts on eight cancer treatments that are expected to generate roughly £140 million in savings over five years.
Source
