Drug injustice

It has been shown to have the potential to prolong life in the post-chemotherapy treatment of some men with metastatic prostate cancer and also to improve the quality of a patient’s life.

The NICE decision places Scotland firmly in the healthcare spotlight. Actually, we are already there because patients in England have been able to access Abiraterone through their Cancer Drugs Fund and have been doing so in increasing numbers.

Earlier this year, the All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group approved the drug for use on the NHS in Wales, to the delight of patients and their families, health professionals and politicians of all persuasions.

In Scotland, a drug developed with the assistance of the staff at the Beatson in Glasgow was ruled by our Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) “not to justify” its health benefits. The result of a second submission will be announced in August.

The issue has already made waves in Holyrood. Ruth Davidson was swiftly off the block with perceptive questions to the First Minister.

MSPs including Jackie Baillie, Mary Scanlon, Colin Beattie, James Kelly, John Pentland, Iain Gray, Anne McTaggart, Elaine Smith, Hugh Henry and Patricia Ferguson have registered their concern. Angela Constance has been unstinting in her support of our group’s Livingston members, while Malcolm Chisholm has given time in Edinburgh.

Both Mr Chisholm and Jim Eadie have allowed opportunities to discuss Abiraterone at separate major meetings they have chaired and reported back within Holyrood.

The current score on Abiraterone is England and Wales 2, Scotland 0. Nobody could argue that this is anything other than unfair and unjust.

Hopefully the SMC will take this into account alongside an equitable financial arrangement when it decides on the appeal on 13 August.

Mike Shaw

Edinburgh and Lothian Prostate Cancer Support Group

Crewe Road

Edinburgh