NHS Improvement & NHS England pledge for swifter access to medicines for those with rare diseases

NHS Improvement and NHS England have committed to many actions to support swifter access to medicines for those with rare conditions and diseases.

According to England’s first ‘Rare Diseases Action Plan’, those with rare diseases will benefit from faster access to the specialist treatment, care and drugs they need.

The plan, published on 28 February 2022, states that to promote equal access for all, the across-the-board uptake of drugs for patients with rare diseases will be monitored, and access will be mapped across the country.

Developed in partnership with NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) and NHS England, the Health Education England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the NIHR, Genomics England, NHS Digital and the Medical Research Council, the plan conveys that NHSE&I has committed to many actions to support rapid access to drugs for those with rare diseases.

This includes mapping schemes, including the ‘Innovative Medicines Fund’, which uses horizon scanning and engaging partners, such as the pharmaceutical industry and NICE, to promote understanding of their place in the evaluation pathway.

Health and social secretary, Sajid Javid, stated: “This action plan will speed up diagnoses and care and allow our fantastic workforce to better support patients, by drawing upon the UK’s world-leading science and technology. I am committed to levelling up our health system so that everyone, regardless of their condition, can receive treatment that is tailored to their needs.”

Chief executive of the NIHR, Lucy Chappell, stated: “Cumulatively, these diseases affect a substantial proportion of the population. The impacts on these individuals and their families are wide-ranging. Our research needs to continue to address early diagnosis, effective treatments and supporting them to live well with their conditions.”