Guernsey Press

P&R adds its opposition to Roffey drugs spend requete

STATES members are being urged not to back a requete that would lead to at least £4m. more being spent annually on drugs and instead back a more detailed review.

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(Picture by Fiona Hanson/PA)

Deputy Peter Roffey is leading the requete, which argues patients referred to the UK for treatment should have access to the same range of medicines and treatment as NHS patients.

Now Policy & Resources has joined Health & Social Services and Employment & Social Security in urging caution given that an investigation into funding treatments, services and other interventions is already under way.

P&R said it could not support such a significant change in policy without the benefit of the comprehensive review.

‘It would be perverse to set up a review with outcomes defined in advance and without a clear understanding of all of the implications, both intended and unintended,’ it said.

HSC has highlighted areas not addressed in the requete, such as the inequality it would create in patients being treated on and off island, and the consideration of treatments as well as drugs.

‘It is Policy & Resources’ view that the review will be well placed to consider all these matters and bring to the Assembly the detailed information it requires if it is minded to introduce a new policy direction,’ said a spokesman.

HSC has forecast it would cost an extra £4-5m. a year for drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence that are used in the NHS and several million more to extend all the approved procedures and treatments.

‘The overall financial impact would therefore not be something that could be managed easily and Policy & Resources would like any decision to be made with a full understanding of the implications either for expenditure elsewhere or taxation.’

ESS says that if £4-5m. needed to be raised through contributions, the rate would have to rise another 0.3% or 0.4%.