North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Health Minister to keep the Assembly updated on progress towards ensuring that people in Wales with Cystic Fibrosis can access drugs that stabilise their lung health and reduce the need for hospital admissions.
Speaking in yesterday’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood said while the Scottish Government have announced that people with Cystic Fibrosis there could access life-saving drugs Orkambi and Symkevi as part of a five-year agreement with the manufacturer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the situation has not moved on in Wales.
Calling for a Statement on the situation, he said:
“You referred to a Statement by the Minister in August, but the Scottish Government announced that people with Cystic Fibrosis there could access Orkambi and Symkevi as part of a five-year agreement with Vertex on 12 September. So, things have moved on and it's in that context that the Cystic Fibrosis Trust have stated that it seems there were preliminary discussions between Vertex and the All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre looking at the possibility of submissions being made some weeks and months ago, but the data submissions to the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group haven't taken place, as far as they're aware.
“And, with the news from Scotland, they're saying that it's very disappointing that these discussions haven't got to this stage with Welsh authorities and they're urging Vertex to ensure that they follow the necessary procedures to make this happen.
“But they're also saying it would be really useful if we can ensure the Minister here can continue to update the Assembly on progress and look at what his Department can do to ensure that this stays on the agenda and Welsh people with Cystic Fibrosis aren't spending too long without access to treatments that their Scottish counterparts do have access to. So, the diary has moved on, and it's in that context I feel, across Parties, we would welcome that Statement.”
Responding, the Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans AM, said:
“The Health Minister is keen to keep all Members up to date on matters relating to the availability of medicines for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis, following the Statement that he made last month, and to be clear again that we really do encourage Vertex Pharmaceuticals to engage with the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group appraisals process and make that submission urgently. But, as soon as there is further to report on that, I know that the Health Minister will be very keen to do so.”
