§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the oral answer to the Prime Minister of 28 November 2001,Official Report, column 961, which new anti-cancer drugs are to be made available to the NHS by the end of the year. [22200]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 11 December 2001]New cancer drugs come on stream continuously. Following appraisal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, new drugs for 13 specific indications could be available by the end of 2001 (timings are of course subject to the appeals process). The national health service will be obliged to fund the implementation of any such guidance, and the extra resources that we announced recently will ensure that the NHS is well placed to do so.