SMC to decide on prostate cancer drug

9 Aug 2012

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) will decide on Monday whether or not to approve the drug Abiraterone for use on prostate cancer patients.

Scotland is currently the only part of the UK where patients cannot access the medication, which extends the life and improves the quality of life, for those in the advanced stages of the disease.

Urging the SMC to approve the drug, Scottish Conservative health spokesman and deputy leader Jackson Carlaw MSP said:

“Scotland is currently the only part of the UK which does not have access to this valued medication.

“If the SMC does not approve its use, it will make a situation which is already causing severe disadvantage even worse.

“Prostate cancer is a significant killer in Scotland, and for it to be the only part of the UK where Abiraterone is unavailable is a shocking shortcoming in our system.

“Of course, if the SNP agreed to create a Cancer Drugs Fund similar to that in England, this would be less of an issue.

“But as it stands, men who suffer prostate cancer in Scotland and their families are being failed badly.”