DRUG INFORMATION

Formulary

The Network Formulary is a comprehensive list of high cost cancer drugs which are approved for use in the Pan Birmingham Cancer Network.

The formulary incorporates drugs approved by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), and drugs funded from the high cost drug allocation which is managed by the Local Collaborative Commissioning Board (LCCB).

Click here to view the Network Formulary (PDF)

In the Network Formulary we always use generic drug names.  We have not used proprietary or brand names.

New therapies

The Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (D+TC) meets regularly to discuss new therapies available for treating cancer.  If the Committee approves the drug for use, a guidance document is produced.   These documents define the criteria of the population who would, in the D+TC’s consideration, benefit from the drug.

The D+TC will also make an estimate of the number of patients in the population who would fulfil these criteria, and the likely cost of treating them.  The business case covering this population will be considered as part of the Local Delivery Process (LDP) round in October for funds from the following April.

Clinicians should understand that PCTs will not normally support funding requests for drugs which are not included in the formulary unless it can be clearly demonstrated that in the individual case there is strong evidence of exceptionality.

Click here to view the Policy for Commissioning High Cost Drugs

Click here to view the Drugs and Therapeutics Approval Process

Exceptions from the treating Consultant

Individuals can ask their clinician to request that their PCT funds treatments and interventions that are not routinely commissioned or are outside established clinical criteria. However, these requests must come via an NHS healthcare professional.  The clinician needs to clearly demonstrate why the underlying commissioning policy does not apply in the particular case.  Each PCT has a process to ensure these individual requests are considered fairly and a process for considering any subsequent appeal.

Click here to view the PCT exceptions process and contact details

Click here to view the PCT individual treatment request form