Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total level of spending incurred by the Cancer Drugs Fund on reimbursing the National Health Service for molecular diagnostics testing in the last three years for which figures are available.

Information on expenditure by the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) prior to 1 April 2013 is not available at individual drug/indication level.

NHS England has had oversight of the Fund since April 2013 and publishes information on the Fund’s financial position on its website at:

www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/

This is also attached.

Only one type of molecular diagnostic has been funded through the CDF since NHS England took over operational management of the Fund in April 2013. RAS (rat sarcoma) testing can be funded though the CDF as a temporary measure while work is currently underway to clarify legacy arrangements for how such tests are currently commissioned and ensure alignment with the National Tariff payment rules.

NHS England has advised that it is currently receiving approximately 350 notifications per month for RAS testing at an estimated cost of £70,000 per month.