Ring-fencing a budget for cancer drugs: is it fair?

Graham, J., Cassidy, J., Hughes, D. and Duerden, M. (2011) Ring-fencing a budget for cancer drugs: is it fair? Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 41(3), pp. 224-228. (doi: 10.4997/JRCPE.2011.310)

Abstract

Ring-fencing is defined as protecting funds for use in a specific area. In the NationalHealth Service in the UK, various methods to ring-fence cancer have beenemployed over the years; more recently the Cancer Drugs Fund in England hasenabled cancer drugs that would not normally be considered cost-effective to beprovided to patients. This has created variation in provision between England andthe devolved countries. While some would argue that ring-fencing allows majoradvances to be made in the treatment of a particular condition, others wouldargue that it is intrinsically unfair. In this debate, Graham and Cassidy have writtenan article arguing the affirmative position and Hughes and Duerden were invitedto respond directly to their arguments. As with all the RCPE's 'Currentcontroversies', the authors have been asked to take a deliberately polarisedposition and so the views they express may be somewhat overstated.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cassidy, Professor James and Graham, Mrs Jan
• Authors: Graham, J., Cassidy, J., Hughes, D., and Duerden, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• Journal Abbr.: J R Coll Physicians Edinb
• Publisher: Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• ISSN: 1478-2715
• ISSN (Online): 2042-8189