Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nicholas Dakin and Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford

Tuesday 7th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Nicola Blackwood]

I completely agree with my hon. Friend. Medicines are the second highest area of spending in the NHS after staff, and it is vital that the NHS gets best value from that investment. That is why I am pleased that the House supported our recent Bill on the cost of medicines and medicine supplies, which will enable us to tackle unjustified price rises for unbranded generic medicines. We are also working closely with NHS England to promote the use of the new wave of biosimilar medicines and to ensure cost-effective prescribing behaviour.

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

When will the Government publish their response to the accelerated access review, and will that include a consideration of how to improve patient access to molecular diagnostics?

[Nicola Blackwood]

We are working hard on that exact point.