Scheme to give public patients earlier access to expensive new drugs being 'looked into'

"Oncologists have previously raised concerns over 'two-tier system'"

"An early-access scheme that would make expensive new drugs available to patients more quickly is being examined by health officials and pharmaceutical companies, it emerged yesterday."

"Professor Michael Barry, head of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, which assesses the cost effectiveness of drugs, said it is being "earnestly looked into"."

Oncologists have previously raised concerns about the emergence of a two-tier system in drug access. An early-access scheme aims to make expensive new drugs available to patients more quickly. Health officials and pharmaceutical companies are jointly examining this potential pathway to speed access. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, which assesses the cost-effectiveness of drugs, indicates the initiative is being "earnestly looked into." The proposal raises issues of affordability, equity, and the balance between rapid access and thorough cost-effectiveness evaluation.

Read at Independent