North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has called for a Statement from the Health Secretary confirming when the Cystic Fibrosis Drug Alyftrek will be routinely available on the NHS in Wales.
Alyftrek, which has been available in England since the summer, represents the latest advance in treatments that are transforming Cystic Fibrosis care by targeting the underlying cause of the disease rather than just managing symptoms.
Speaking in the Senedd Chamber today, Mr Isherwood expressed concern that the drug is still not available to Welsh patients and called for an update from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.
He said:
“I call for a Statement on access to Cystic Fibrosis treatments.
“The recently approved drug, Alyftrek, remains unavailable in Wales, despite being accessible in England since the summer and covered by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance. Although implementation in Wales typically follows within 60 days of NICE approval, this has not occurred with Alyftrek.
“The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and clinical teams have raised concerns about extended commercial negotiations, and the Trust understands that the Welsh Government is seeking a broader agreement to include patients beyond NICE criteria, which is unnecessarily delaying access for those who already meet the guidelines.
“The Chief Executive Officer of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust has written to the Health Secretary here, urging immediate access for eligible patients. We therefore need a Statement from the Health Secretary confirming when Alyftrek will be routinely available on the NHS in Wales for those who meet NICE criteria, and what steps are being taken to ensure timely access for those most in need.”
Responding, the Trefnydd, Jane Hutt MS, said:
“Clearly, you have engaged in terms of the all-important access to that new medication for people with cystic fibrosis. I'm sure you will understand that it is welcome that the Welsh Government is also looking at patients beyond the NICE criteria, but we clearly need to get information back to, particularly, those families and those with cystic fibrosis in terms of the timelines for this. I'll certainly share this and raise this with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, and he will get back to you, and indeed share that with the Senedd.”
