HEALTH MINISTER ORDERS CLINICAL AUDIT ON ACCESSING KIDNEY CANCER DRUG
24 December 2008
Swansea LHB and Edwina Hart have announce a clinical review on access to drugs used to treat kidney cancer in the prescribing of Sutent across Wales . Because of pressure The James Whale Fund, along with the hard work from Rose Woodward of the Kidney Cancer Support Network (KCNS), the statement below was issued by Edwina, Hart Health Minister for the Welsh Assembly. This comes about as a direct result of the dogged determination of the fund and it’s associates who, all working closely with kidney cancer patients such as Joanne Popham, got the message through loud and clear.
This gives us all a great feeling and is a huge reward that the work we do. It show what we do counts and that we are all vital, important and together, the fund, KCNS, patients, carers and supporters will make the things happen:
HEALTH MINISTER ORDERS CLINICAL AUDIT ON ACCESSING KIDNEY CANCER DRUG
On Tuesday, 23 December Health Minister Edwina Hart ordered a clinical audit of decisions by Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts on access to drugs used to treat kidney cancer, following concerns at inconsistencies across Wales in the prescribing of Sutent.
A study undertaken by the Medical Director of NHS Wales, Professor Mike Harmer, found that in 2008 there were 73 requests for Sutent, with 23 patients having their treatment agreed, 48 having it rejected, with six now going to appeal.
All patients, for example, in Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, who were recommended for the treatment by their consultants, received it, while in Cardiff of the 13 who were recommended, 12 were declined. In Swansea, none of the 14 patients recommended for Sutent received it, while in North Wales, of the seven requests, three were agreed. The audit will look first at the decisions in Cardiff and Swansea.
Mrs Hart has now asked for clinical audit of all the cases to ensure that consistency is being applied when decisions on funding are being taken.
NICE and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) have issued initial guidance which states that Sutent should not be funded on the NHS due to a lack of evidence on its clinical and cost effectiveness. This means that a decision on funding such treatment is down to Local Health Boards (LHBs) after considering the evidence for individual patients.
NICE is currently reconsidering its advice on Sutent and is expected to issue firm guidance by mid-to-late January, though the Minister has made clear that she is not prepared to wait indefinitely for a decision. Mrs Hart has already shown that she is prepared for Wales to makes its own decisions on access to drugs with her announcement on access to Lucentis for treating Wet AMD, the condition that causes blindness.
The Minister also asked Professor Phillip Routledge, the chair of the AWMSG, to look at the issue of funding drugs on the NHS that are not approved by NICE. His report will be available in the New Year.
Mrs Hart said: “The past few months have seen concerns raised by members of the public over the availability of a number of drugs used to treat kidney cancer. In determining the effectiveness of such drugs and their potential benefit to patients, we are guided by NICE.
“Initial guidance for Sutent and Sorafenib, based on available information was that there was insufficient patient benefit to warrant treatment both on the grounds of effectiveness and cost. This guidance has been challenged and NICE are reconsidering their advice in light of further evidence. If NICE decides to support the use of these drugs, they will be made available to suitable patients in Wales with immediate effect.”
