Cancer: More money should be spent to beat cancer
By Lucy Quinton
Cancer drugs should only be given to people who would benefit in a bid to curb the spiralling costs of cancer drugs, according to Professor Karol Sikora, medical director at CancerPartnersUK.
Speaking at the AMII conference, Prof Sikora said the rising cost of cancer treatment was a worldwide problem, as well as an emotional and political issue.
He said a recent MORI poll found the healthcare system to be at the top of people's agenda when considering who to vote for at the next election. A total of 78% who responded said cancer was the single most important thing in the healthcare system.
Prof Sikora said that, with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the problem was not the cost of drugs but the fact they only worked for a few people. He added that society was becoming increasingly selfish, because people believed they have a right to get high-cost drugs.
The rise in the number of people with cancer is set to soar as it is a disease of the ageing population, affecting the over-50s in the majority of cases.
"The concept of immortality is the holy grail of modern-day society, and is completely unrealistic," he said.
Many in the UK believe that more money should be spent to beat cancer but end-of-term palliative care is often overlooked.
"There is no thought whatsoever to the quality of life," Prof Sikora added.
However, he added that patients are now involved in choosing the drugs they want, after WPA released its mycancerdrugs.
