Consultation launched on new cancer drugs fund

The Department for Health has launched a consultation on the creation of a new cancer drugs fund, which it believes will make it easier for patients and doctors to gain access to essential treatments.

As outlined in last week's Spending Review, a total of 200 million pounds is to be made available each year from April 2011 to the end of 2013 to pay for innovative cancer therapies that doctors have recommended for their patients.

The consultation has been launched in order to collate views on the execution of these plans, discussing matters such as the scope of the fund and the need for guidance relating to its operation.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley expressed confidence that this measure will help to bridge the gap in cancer care standards between England and other developed nations.

He added: "This fund is just one example of how we are putting the clinical experts in charge of making decisions."

The government's Spending Review also revealed that overall NHS spending is to increase by 0.4 percent in real terms up to 2015.