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<p>The Government is committed to ensuring that patients have access to effective
treatments, including those for pancreatic cancer, on terms that represent value to
the National Health Service and the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The National
Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible
for providing advice to the NHS on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>NICE has recommended gemcitabine as a treatment option for
pancreatic cancer in technology appraisal guidance published in May 2001, subject
to certain clinical criteria, and has been asked to appraise a number of other pancreatic
cancer drugs. NHS commissioners are legally required to fund treatments recommended
by NICE technology appraisal guidance.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p><p>Where
a pancreatic cancer drug is not routinely available on the NHS, patients may be able
to access it through the Cancer Drugs Fund.</p><p> </p><p><br> NHS England’s Cancer
Drugs Fund panel plans to assess, on the basis of the latest evidence, whether certain
drugs, including Abraxane (albumin bound paclitaxel) for advanced pancreatic cancer,
should continue to be made routinely available to new patients through the Fund and
to consider a number of new drugs for potential addition to the Fund.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>NHS England has assured the Department that no patient whose treatment
is currently being funded through the Fund will have funding withdrawn, as long as
it is clinically appropriate that they continue to receive that treatment. In addition,
no drug will be removed from the Fund where it is the only therapy for that condition.<br>
<br> We are committed to maintaining the Cancer Drugs Fund until the end of March
2016. We will carefully consider with NHS England what arrangements should be put
in place for the long term.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Surgery, radiotherapy and
chemotherapy treatments that may be used for pancreatic cancer are commissioned by
NHS England. NHS England’s pancreatic cancer service specification clearly defines
what it expects to be in place for providers to offer evidence-based, safe and effective
pancreatic cancer services.</p><p> </p><p><br> NHS England has also committed to make
up to £6 million available over the next three years to support six trials by Cancer
Research UK - one of which will be on pancreatic cancer - into the use of Stereotactic
Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR), an innovative radiotherapy treatment. This will allow
patients to receive SABR treatment where clinicians think they could benefit. At the
same time doctors can fully assess the effectiveness of this treatment so that, if
it proves to be effective, it will be available for patients on the NHS where appropriate.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are also commissioning an external review of the pathways
for the development, assessment, and adoption of innovative medicines and medical
technology. This review will consider how to speed up access for NHS patients to cost-effective
new diagnostics, medicines and devices.</p><p> </p>
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