Cancer suffer's victory prompts discussions on additional private drugs
The insurance industry should begin discussing the possible implications of the debate over cancer drugs, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
The body outlined its stance following September's victory in court for Colin Ross, a cancer sufferer who took West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) to court in order to force them to supply him with the drug Revlimid. Despite the medication being prescribed in other areas, West Sussex PCT refused to supply the medication.
The ABI, in anticipation of the Richards Review into the consequences of additional private drugs for NHS care, said choices of expensive care could be made available to a large number of people by insurers pooling the risk.
Stephen Haddrill, director general of the ABI, said: "The debate on whether patients can pay for drugs that are not otherwise available on the NHS is of critical importance. The ABI calls for the Richards Review to be followed by further work involving all relevant stakeholders, including the insurance industry."
He added: "The ABI believes that patient choice in this area is an important principle that must not be abandoned, but it should not be achieved at the expense of creating a two-tier health system."
The ABI said this could be achieved through people having consistent access to the NHS through an "explicit national agreement" and that any choices to supplement this entitlement were real, affordable choices for the majority of the population.
The King's Fund, a health-related think tank, also came out in support of top-ups, saying the current situation is "untenable".
The Richards Review is set to report in October with the findings being monitored 'with interest' by the health authorities in Northern Ireland and Wales.
