UK Health Secretary promises £80M Boost to Cancer Drugs Fund for the next Two Years

David Cameron’s flagship cancer drugs fund receives an £80million boost but clinicians will assess whether treatments represent value for money for the first time

image of UK Health_Secretary_Jeremy_Hunt
UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has asked NICE to work with cancer charities in the hope that more life-extending drugs will be approved for us.

Thousands more cancer patients in England will be offered vital treatments in a £80 million boost to the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF), the UK Department of Health said today.

The fund, which has helped more than 55,000 cancer patients since it was set up four years ago, will be increased from £200 million a year to £280 million a year for the next two years to improve access to drugs currently deemed too expensive.

The increase in funding means two new cancer drugs will be made available and many more patients with rare conditions will benefit from life-extending drugs recommended by their doctor.

More Information:

  • Hunt demands shake-up to stop NICE blocking life-extending drugs for cancer: Health Secretary will also announce 40% increase in resources to pay for treatments,
    DailyMail, 27 August 2014.
  • Cancer drugs fund subject to ‘value for money’ assessment for first time, The Telegraph, 28 Aug 2014.

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