NHS accused of denying women lifesaving breast cancer drug
'Bureaucratic inertia' stopping thousands of patients from receiving 43p-a-day medication, says charity
A lifesaving and inexpensive breast cancer drug is being denied to thousands of patients, claims a leading charity.
"Women's lives are needlessly being put at risk," says Breast Cancer Now chief executive Baroness Delyth Morgan.
The drug, bisphosphonate, which costs 43p a day, is normally used to treat osteoporosis but has also proven effective at stopping breast cancer from spreading in post-menopausal women.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"These are cheap and widely available drugs and the overwhelming evidence of their ability to save lives should have changed practice by now," Morgan added.
Breast Cancer Now blamed confusion over who should pay for the drug for the hold-up, which it described as "bureaucratic inertia", Sky News reports.
The charity also called for clear national guidance on funding, arguing that as research showed the drug could prevent one in ten breast cancer deaths, the NHS would save money in the long-term as bone density scans would not be needed and fewer patients would go on to develop secondary breast cancer.
Professor Ian Smith, the chairman of the Breast Cancer Clinical Reference Group, said it was "deeply concerning" that such an inexpensive treatment was not being made available to all who could benefit.
"In order to deliver the best quality breast cancer care to UK patients, the introduction of these drugs for all eligible women must now be our top priority," he said.
NHS England said funding decisions on the drug were currently made on a local level, but it was awaiting new advice from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Cautious optimism surrounds plans for the world's first nuclear fusion power plant
Talking Point Some in the industry feel that the plant will face many challenges
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Explore new worlds this winter at these 6 enlightening museum exhibitions
The Week Recommends Discover the estrados of Spain and the connection between art and chess in various African countries
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
2024: the year of Black country artists
In the Spotlight Beyoncé debuted 'Cowboy Carter' at the top of the country charts, shining a spotlight on artists like Shaboozey
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Should blood donors be paid?
The Explainer Financial rewards would help fill NHS shortfall but bring risk of contamination and exploitation, WHO warns
By The Week UK Published
-
UK gynaecological care crisis: why thousands of women are left in pain
The Explainer Waiting times have tripled over the past decade thanks to lack of prioritisation or funding for women's health
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
A 'transformative' gene therapy for haemophilia B
The Explainer Costly treatment that could be 'truly life-changing' for patients with rare blood disorder gets funding boost
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Infected blood scandal: will justice be served?
Today's Big Question Government apologises for 'decades-long moral failure' and promises £10bn compensation but true accountability may take far longer
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Immunotherapy and hay fever
The Explainer Research shows that the treatment could provide significant relief from symptoms for many hay fever sufferers
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The pros and cons of universal health care
Pros and Cons A medical system that serves everyone comes with its own costs, and they're not only financial
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Last updated
-
Martha's Rule: patients given right to urgent second opinion
The Explainer Hospitals in England will launch new scheme that will allow access to a rapid treatment review
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The contaminated blood scandal
The Explainer Widely regarded as the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, the public inquiry is due to publish its report in May
By The Week UK Published