§ Ms PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the organisations that have appealed against the final appraisal determination on the use of taxanes for the treatment of breast cancer in the NHS, indicating the patient groups among them. [122468]
§ Yvette CooperAppeals against the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's draft guidance on the use of taxanes for the treatment of breast cancer were received from Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and from the patient group CancerBACUP
§ Ms PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects NICE to publish the guidance on the use of taxanes for the treatment of breast cancer in the NHS; [122469]
(2) what reasons underlie the length of time taken by NICE to publish guidance on the use of taxanes for the treatment of breast cancer in the NHS. [122467]
§ Yvette CooperNational Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on taxanes has been delayed because of a successful appeal. The Appraisal Committee will be reconvened as soon as possible to reconsider its guidance on taxanes in breast cancer in the light of the findings of the appeal panel. Interested parties will then have a further opportunity to consider the revised guidance. It is expected that NICE will issue guidance around the end of June.
§ Ms PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the financial impact on health authorities and trusts of NICE guidance supporting the use of taxanes for the treatment of breast cancer; and what plans he has to ensure that sufficient funding is available in the NHS drugs budget to implement such guidance. [122472]
§ Yvette CooperWe have not received the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's recommendations on the use of taxane for breast cancer. The additional £600 million allocated to health authorities following the recent budget is intended, among other things, to enable health authorities to fund recommendations from NICE.