Keywords: UK, Use of innovative medicines, Cancer drug funding, ABPI

UK patients less likely than other Europeans to receive innovative drugs for cancer and chronic diseases, DoH study finds

Article | 28 July 2010

• Print This

A comprehensive report comparing the use of medicines in the UK with that in other countries was published yesterday by the UK Department of Health, showing that Britain still lags behind comparable countries in Europe and elsewhere on its use of newer cancer treatments and medicines for chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and dementia under the National Health Service.

For the uptake of cancer medicines less than five years old, the figures show that the UK’s average ranking out of 14 countries worldwide is 12, above only Canada and New Zealand - and is therefore the worst amongst comparable European countries. Enjoying this article? To continue reading you need to login, take a FREE trial or subscribe.