Paul Rowen: concern about vital drug ruling

Date published: 26/10/2006

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has spoke of his concern that a vital drug, Alimta, may be withdrawn from mesotheliama sufferers.  A decision on this is expected any day from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) – they are expected to withdraw the drug from the NHS because they claim it is "too expensive’.  Paul has now requested an urgent debate in Parliament and has requested that the Leader of the House, Jack Straw MP, calls a Parliamentary debate on the matter.

In the House of Commons last week Paul Rowen asked: "May we have a debate on the availability of Alimta for the treatment of mesothelioma? I am sure that the Leader of the House is aware that a postcode lottery is operating in relation to that drug, which is the only one available for victims of mesothelioma. On 27 October, the NICE will rule on whether it could be made available on the NHS. Many members such as myself who have local factories where workers have suffered from asbestosis are seriously concerned about this."

Jack Straw responded: "I understand the great concerns in areas where there were asbestos factories. We had a gas mask factory in Blackburn during the war, and the effects of the use of asbestos there are still continuing. It is reasonable to await the decision by NICE. I am glad that there is an increasing consensus that that process is the way forward."

Paul Rowen said: "The Manchester Cancer Alliance have agreed to pay for this crucial drug until the decision is made by NICE.  This time next week, it may not be available via the NHS and I believe that will be tragedy for mesotheliama sufferers in this Borough.  The drug does not cure the cancer but what it does is improve the quality of life for sufferers, it also extends their lives, and to see it withdrawn, all for money, is disgraceful.  I hope that we can have a debate in Parliament about this and raise MP’s awareness of this obvious injustice.  We have people who have paid into the NHS all their lives and are now being let down by the system."

The Parliamentary All Party Group on Asbestos, which Paul Rowen is a member of, is now planning to lobby Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss the issue.