§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what prescribing guidance his Department has issued regarding Herceptin. [143537]
§ Ms StuartThe Department has not issued specific guidance on the prescribing of Herceptin (trastuzumab).
The product received its marketing authorisation from the European Commission on 28 August 2000. It may be prescribed for National Health Service patients when it is clinically appropriate to do so.
Herceptin is one of 13 cancer drugs which have been referred for appraisal to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. We expect the Institute to report the outcome of its appraisal in summer 2001.
§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has made available for newly approved drugs for the treatment of cancer. [143536]
§ Yvette CooperThe NHS Plan announced that cancer services will receive an additional £280 million in 2001–02, £407 million in 2002–03 and £570 million by 2003–04. These amounts include funding for any cancer drugs approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence following appraisals.
§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities fund the supply of(a) taxanes for use in ovarian cancer, (b) taxanes for use in breast cancer, (c) Ribovarin, (d) Interferon Alpha and (e) Zyban. [143535]
§ Ms StuartWe do not hold information centrally on health authority funding of specific medicines or treatments. The Department allocates funds to health authorities for each financial year. It is then for each health authority to decide how best to spend these funds for the benefit of local patients.