The government has today announced that an additional £6 million is being given towards specialist drugs used for the treatment of cancer.

Today's announcement completes a programme of new investment in specialist medicines, amounting to £21 million over the next two years.

It is understood that hundreds of patients will benefit from the life-improving drugs that the extra funding will provide.

Speaking earlier, Health Minister, Shaun Woodward said: “I have secured additional funding amounting to £21 million over the next two years for specialist drugs. I recently announced that £8 million of this will be used to tackle the current waiting lists for anti-TNF drugs for severe inflammatory arthritis and disease modifying therapies for Multiple Sclerosis.

“Today I am announcing an additional £6 million for new cancer drugs and a further £7 million to meet other specialist drug pressures and to introduce new therapies to Northern Ireland.”

In relation to the cancer drugs, the Minister said: “Cancer patients will benefit significantly from the extra monies. The additional investment will also allow us to introduce a range of new drugs and therapies for the treatment of a variety of forms of cancer, including breast and bowel cancers.”

An additional £7 million will also be allocated to Boards to tackle local drug pressures and to provide specialist medicines to meet the needs of people living with a range of severe conditions such as osteoporosis and pulmonary hypertension.

Mr Woodward continued: “I have consistently stated that my Department will seek, wherever possible, to improve access to specialist medicines which offer the potential for significant improvement in patient care."

He concluded by saying that the additional funding being provided now and in the future will make a very real difference to people’s lives.

(EF/SP)