§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of people with advanced colorectal cancer that are being denied irinotecan, oxaliplatin and raltitrexed for the treatment of their disease. [3288]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 11 July 2001]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 129W.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently published guidance on the use of irinotecan, oxaliplatin and raltitrexed for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.
Directions have been issued obliging health authorities and primary care trusts to provide appropriate funding for treatments recommended by NICE. From 1 January this year, the NHS will have three months from the date of publication of each technology appraisal guidance to provide funding, so that clinical decisions made by doctors involving NICE recommended treatments or drugs can be funded.