By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Almost Anybody Qualifies for Medicaid in Maine
    November 23, 2012
    ebola and EHR
    Ebola: Are We Relying on EHR to Tell the Story?
    October 24, 2014
    Caitlin Kelly
    How Would You Fix Healthcare? – Question and Answers.
    January 16, 2013
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: NHS Draws Ire of Public Over Cancer Drug Rationing
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > NHS Draws Ire of Public Over Cancer Drug Rationing
Health carePolicy & LawPublic Health

NHS Draws Ire of Public Over Cancer Drug Rationing

John Henning
John Henning
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

The NHS is regarded as one of the best healthcare systems in the world. However, it is under growing strain due to budget cuts, demographic changes, rising obesity rates and a higher prevalence of cancer. NHS policymakers have been forced to address these problems to lower costs, which has prompted them to drug rationing. Cancer drugs have been restricted more than many other types of medication.

NHS Rationing of Drugs Raises Political Ire and Debate Over Sustainability

The NHS primarily restricts access to medication that is geared for terminally ill patients. Some of these drugs can extend patient lifetimes by six months to a year. However, officials say that the benefit is not worth the cost, because it would force them to ration services to patients that could actually make a recovery. ??We know that people with cancer place great importance on drugs that can increase their life expectancy. For that reason we apply as much flexibility as we can when we look at new life-extending treatments. But the reality is that the price of trastuzumab emtansine [the generic name for Kadcyla] is currently too high in relation to the benefits it gives for it to be recommended for routine commissioning in the NHS, even taking into account the end-of-life criteria and the patient access scheme.? In December, many charities were furious after the NHS refuse to cover the breast cancer drug Kadcyla. The NHS responded to criticisms by stating that it cost 90,000 pounds a year for treatment. Charities responded by stating that it can extend a patient?s life expectancy by up to nine months. Research from the United States FDA shows that the average patient using Kadcyla will live another 5.8 more months. Rationing of drug therapies and other essential services are among the growing concerns universal healthcare systems around the world must contend with. As the median age of the population increases and younger patients continue to live less healthy lifestyles, rationing concerns will be larger than ever. The NHS and its counterparts around the world Will need to implement rationing fairly in the face of harsh political backlash. The NHS has since stated that it will continue to fund the drug after reaching a new deal that would make it more affordable. However, other drugs are still rationed, which raises a number of concerns. Patient advocacy groups continue to warn that rationing will come at a large cost to the country. Fiscal experts have other concerns. They fear that being too lenient with drug coverage will threaten the existence of the NHS and place undue burden on the taxpayers. ?Our country will need to make a choice with funding our limited healthcare resources,? said one physician I spoke with. ?The NHS does a better job providing healthcare to its citizens than most countries and we are lucky to have it. But at the end of the day, we must ask whether we should extend the life of an elderly, terminally ill patient by a few months or use those resources to save a young child that could make a full recovery. Those are hard choices citizens don?t want to hear about. The NHS doesn?t have the luxury of ignoring them. They must make these kind of calls every day. We must trust their judgment on these issues.? Financing healthcare will be more difficult as costs rise in the future. The NHS will do everything possible to make sure the needs of UK citizens are met without bankrupting taxpayers.

TAGGED:cancer drug rationingdrug rationing
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By John Henning
John Henning is a nutritionist, freelance writer, and food blogger that provides accessible nutrition info to help people live a healthier life. His unique approach to nutrition emphasizes nutrient-dense, whole foods and healthy habits rather than restrictive diets.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

New Ways to Lose Weight

June 21, 2012
Home Health Worker
Health care

Guarding Your Health – 6 Essential PPE Investments for the New Home Health Worker

August 31, 2023

Transforming Medicaid via the Medical Home Model

February 24, 2013

10 Early Dementia Signs You Need To Be Aware Of

October 10, 2018
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?