§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which health authorities are providing the cancer drug Glivec; how many people are receiving the drug, broken down by health authority; at what cost; and if he will make a statement; [38233]
(2) whether there is a mechanism for patients unable to receive the cancer drug Glivec from their own health authority to have the treatment in another health authority; and if he will make a statement; [38232]
(3) when he expects the NICE report on the drug Glivec for chronic myeloid leukaemia to be published; and if he will make a statement; [38410]
(4) which health authorities provide patients with the drug Glivec for chronic myeloid leukaemia; and if he will make a statement. [38412]
§ Yvette CooperInformation on the provision and cost of Glivec by individual health authority is not available. The funding of treatment for patients is the responsibility of the health authority where the patient lives.
Once a drug is licensed in the United Kingdom it can be prescribed for use in the NHS for patients who meet the licensed criteria. As with all newly licensed treatments awaiting a NICE appraisal, the Department's advice is that funding authorities should consider the clinical evidence available for a specific treatment before making any decision.
296WGlivec received its UK licence last November and so can be prescribed for use in the NHS for patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia who meet the licensed criteria.
It is anticipated that NICE will issue guidance on the use of Glivec for chronic myeloid leukaemia in August 2002.