Charity Warns NHS Rules May Deny Women Vital Breast Cancer Drug

Charity Warns NHS Rules May Deny Women Vital Breast Cancer Drug
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Thousands of women with advanced breast cancer could be denied life-extending treatment because of what a leading charity calls an unfair NHS drug approval system, The Independent reported. Breast Cancer Now is urging Health Secretary Wes Streeting to overhaul the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) spending rules, warning that current thresholds for what counts as a “very severe condition” are too strict.

The charity says patients with incurable breast cancer are being told they do not qualify for the highest severity rating, blocking access to new treatments like Enhertu, which was recently rejected in England and Wales after failed price talks with its manufacturers.

Chief executive Claire Rowney said the policy could cost women precious extra time with family and called for Nice’s “opportunity-cost neutral” rule to be scrapped. Patients, diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at 50, say even a few extra months could mean seeing a child’s milestone or meeting a grandchild.

Nice said its rules have helped more cancer drugs get approved but described the failed Enhertu negotiations as “deeply disappointing.” The Department of Health said it remains open to talks if drug prices are reasonable and pledged wider cancer care improvements in its upcoming 10-year plan.