§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the statement of 12 February 2003,Official Report, column 51WS, on Haemophilia (Recombined Clotting Factors), how much will be allocated to (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire. [100956]
§ Ms BlearsOver the coming months we will be working with key stakeholders including the Haemophilia Society, clinicians, primary care trusts (PCTs) and others to put in place a strategy to implement the availability of recombinant clotting factors. The amounts to be allocated to each PCT will be determined once a strategy is agreed.
§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to monitor the use of the allocation of money to NHS haemophilia treatment centres in England for treating patients with genetically 1199W engineered recombinant instead of products made from human blood; when the first patients will receive the new treatment; how long it will take for all patients to be offered it; how much funding will be allocated in the first year; for how many years the funding will last; and if he will make a statement. [99652]
§ Ms BlearsHaemophilia patients up to the age of 21 are already receiving recombinant clotting factors. The £88 million will begin the process of extending these products to the remaining haemophilia patients aged over 21. The extra funding has been allocated over three years—£13 million in 2003–04, £21.7 million in 2004–05 and £53.4 million in 2005–06.
The Government's aim is that by March 2006 the vast majority of haemophilia patients should be receiving recombinant clotting factors. The Government will work with key stakeholders including the Haemophilia Society, the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation, primary care trusts and others to put in place a strategy to roll out access to these products. This will include plans to monitor the implementation of this strategy. We aim to begin the roll out as soon as possible in the next financial year.