NHS: Clinical Commissioning Groups’ Funding of Treatment

Lord Walton of Detchant Excerpts

Tuesday 12th November 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Walton of Detchant (CB)]

My Lords, does the Minister accept that, largely as a result of new developments in molecular biology, a number of highly effective but also very expensive so-called orphan and ultra-orphan drugs are coming on stream for the treatment of patients with rare diseases? If these drugs are approved by the rare disease advisory group of NHS England and by NICE, will it then be incumbent on clinical commissioning groups to agree to their being prescribed for NHS patients?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, the system is very clear. If NICE recommends under its technology appraisal that a drug should be made available, the funding will automatically follow.