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<p>Ensuring that the National Health Service is able to support the availability and
use of effective medicines for cancers, including rare blood cancer, is a key priority.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Cancer 52, an organisation which specifically represents patients
with rarer cancers, was represented on the independent Cancer Taskforce. The Taskforce
published its report, <em>Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes: A Strategy for England
2015-2020</em>, in July, and made many recommendations relevant to rarer and blood
cancers, focussing in particular on improving access to diagnostic testing, including
fast, direct general practitioner access to key blood tests, and increasing patient
access to the most advanced treatments. NHS England, Public Health England and other
healthcare organisations are now considering the detail of the individual recommendations.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Earlier in 2015, NHS England consulted on the principles and
process by which it makes investment decisions in specialised services, which address
the issue of rarity. The outcome of future investment decisions taken by NHS England
will be published in accordance with the new process. NHS England’s response to the
consultation is attached, and can be found at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/key-docs/"
target="_blank">https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/key-docs/</a></p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition to drug treatments for blood cancers,
NHS England also commissions blood and bone marrow transplantation in accordance with
its current published policy. A revision of the policy is planned during 2015-16 to
be implemented during 2016-17. The current published policy is attached, and can be
found at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/b04-p-a.pdf"
target="_blank">http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/b04-p-a.pdf</a></p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is developing
guidelines for the treatment of multiple myeloma and these are currently subject to
public consultation.</p><p> </p>
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