Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to discuss with the pharmaceutical industry steps to ensure that all patients who suffer from Hepatitis C have access to the full range of available medicines.

Currently, patients with chronic hepatitis C have access to all National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved hepatitis C treatments where clinically appropriate in line with current NICE guidance. Procurement of hepatitis C drugs is already undertaken every six months and this process involves discussion with industry regarding improving the cost to the National Health Service of these treatments. NHS England is continuing its work with industry on the prospects for a different approach to procurement which would further improve cost of these treatments.