Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when NHS England will conclude its preparations for making new hepatitis C drugs available for treating people with cirrhosis of the liver.

NHS England has advised that it is considering extending the current interim commissioning policy for Sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir (Harvoni) and another direct acting antiviral combination therapy for selected patients with cirrhosis associated with Hepatitis C.

NHS England has completed the evidence review and finalised its draft proposals. In doing so, it has engaged with clinical and patient stakeholders from the national lead Clinical Reference Group. NHS England has advised that the aim is that interim commissioning policies will be in place by the first half of 2015.