Rationing of NICE approved drug is totally unacceptable - Webb

3.57.35pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 3rd Nov 2006

Steve Webb - Lib Dem Secretary of State for Health

Commenting on reports today that many prostate cancer sufferers are struggling to be prescribed Taxotere, a NICE approved drug, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Steve Webb MP said:

"The whole point of NICE is to make sure that when drugs work and are good value for money they should be available across the country. It is totally unacceptable that local health bosses are then applying further rationing on these vital drugs."

"If the Government wants local health trusts to prescribe everything that NICE approves, they need to make sure that local bodies have the money they need to pay for these treatments. It would be particularly worrying if prostate cancer sufferers were losing out simply because their cancer has a lower profile. These decisions need to be made systematically and consistently, not according to which campaigning group shouts the loudest."