More people to take out private medical cover after Nice rejects kidney cancer drug?

A greater number of people may be considering taking out private medical cover following the rejection of a drug to treat kidney cancer by the NHS regulator.

The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), which is in charge of deciding which treatments are available on the NHS, has rejected everolimus (brand name Afinitor), a drug used for treating advanced kidney cancer.

Despite maker Novartis proposing an amended patient access scheme, Nice has ruled that the drug is too expensive for the amount of benefit it can potentially provide for patients.

According to the Press Association, research suggests everolimus extends life by three months on average compared to current best standard of care, at a cost of £99 per day per patient.

"We know that patients with renal cancer want to try all the treatment options and are disappointed not to be able to recommend everolimus as a second line treatment option," commented Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive of Nice.

"However, we have to ensure that the money available to the NHS, for treating cancer and other conditions is used to best effect, particularly when NHS funds, like the rest of the public sector, is under considerable financial pressure."

It follows Nice's recent controversial rejection of bowel cancer drug Avastin.

Despite pledges by David Cameron to keep waiting times low, newly released figures indicate that the number of people waiting more than six weeks for key NHS tests has quadrupled in one year*. In June 2010...

GPs should not refer women for labiaplasty on the NHS who are in good health but concerned about the appearance of their genitalia, experts say. Specialists at a Central London hospital say they have received...

Private medical cover may become an increasingly popular way to secure fertility treatment following suggestions it is becoming harder to obtain on the NHS. An investigation by Pulse magazine has revealed...

Sufferers of chronic pain may want to seek out private medical cover in order to avoid lengthy waits for effective treatment. According to a new study sponsored by drug company Pfizer, Britain's eight...

The NHS regulator the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has confirmed it is not approving funding for cancer drug Avastin, something that could lead to more people taking out ...