CLL Support association is a member of The Blood Cancers Alliance, an informal group of all blood cancer charities; who have written to David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt to urge them to find a suitable solution to this wholly unacceptable situation.
The open letter is copied below and has been published in the Times newspaper today thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/...
This letter is also appearing on all websites of the Blood Cancers Alliance members,
Open letter to Rt Hon David Cameron MP and Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP:
Blood cancer charities urge Government for Cancer Drugs Fund solution
As an alliance of blood cancer charities, and on behalf of the 27,000 blood cancer patients and their families who have signed the petition against the delisting of life-saving drugs from the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF), we are writing to express our concern regarding the Government’s failure on the CDF.
The Government is aware of the flawed nature of the CDF, but due to politics, has let it progress to the situation where clinically effective treatments are today being removed without a long-term solution to access.
The CDF is majorly overspent and no data has been collected on whether or not any CDF-funded treatments have actually worked. As a result of these failures 12 blood cancer drug indications, previously deemed clinically effective, are set to be removed from the Fund with no guarantee of future access.
While the CDF has improved access to cancer drugs not routinely available in NHS England, it was always intended to be a temporary solution while a long-term pricing mechanism was worked out. The proposed consultation on the CDF has taken too long to materialise, and as the new CDF system is set to be in place from April 2016, the time is rapidly decreasing for stakeholders to shape a system that is fit for purpose.
Through the revised CDF and Accelerated Access Review, there is a real opportunity to put patients at the heart of the system and ensure they are able to access the most innovative medicines. This is an opportunity that the Government can no longer afford to miss.
Yours sincerely
Blood Cancers Alliance
Eric Low OBE = Chief Executive – Myeloma UK
Sophie Wintrich - Chief Executive – MDS UK
Sandy Craine - Chief Executive – CML Support
Roger Brown - Chair – WMUK
David Innes - Chair – CLL Support Association
Monica Izmajlowicz - Chief Executive – Leukaemia CARE
Jonathan Pearce -Chief Executive – Lymphoma Association
Cathy Gilman = Chief Executive – Bloodwise
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PETITION
The petition can still be signed by following this link – Don’t cut life saving blood cancer drugs
It is a 38 degrees action – which we highly recommend as an organisation. you.38degrees.org.uk/petiti...
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About the Blood Cancers Alliance
The Blood Cancers Alliance (BCA) is an informal coalition of charities representing the blood cancer community
The BCA meets regularly to discuss and share information on policy issues that impact on blood cancer patients
The BCA is currently made up of the following charities:
Myeloma UK myeloma.org.uk/
Bloodwise bloodwise.org.uk/
WMUK wmuk.org.uk/
MDS UK mdspatientsupport.org.uk/
Lymphoma Association lymphomas.org.uk/
Leukaemia CARE leukaemiacare.org.uk/
CML Support cmlsupport.org.uk/
CLL Support Association cllsupport.org.uk/
About blood cancers
Every year around 34,000 patients are diagnosed with a blood cancer
The main blood cancer groups are leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, although there are over 130 types of blood cancer
Blood cancers account for around 1 in 10 cancer diagnoses in the UK
IBRUTINIB - 12 months on
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