International variations in access to medicines
A review in to the extent and causes of international variations in drug usage has today been published. The review, commissioned in 2008, was led by Professor Sir Mike Richards, National Cancer Director.
The report looked at international variations in drug usage for a range of conditions and diseases, across 14 countries, including the United Kingdom. It found that there are wide international variations in usage of most of the drugs included in the study, though few countries emerge as generally high or low users.
The report showed the UK’s usage of new cancer drugs to lag behind that of most of the countries studied. Plans to introduce value-based medicines pricing in 2014, on expiry of the current Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, are intended to allow the Government to take the initiative on access to new medicines. In the meantime, the Government plans to introduce a Cancer Drugs Fund to give patients access to cancer treatments that are not already routinely available within the NHS.
The full report is available here.