ABI responds to proposals for NHS top-up funding

ABI responds to proposals for NHS top-up funding

ABI responds to proposals for NHS top-up funding

Responding to today’s announcement from Health Secretary Alan Johnson MP on top-up funding for drugs not available on the NHS, the ABI’s Director General, Stephen Haddrill, said:

“This announcement goes some way towards addressing the hugely emotive issue of access to drugs. How this new system will work in practice, and the extent to which it will end the ‘postcode lottery’ for cancer drugs in the NHS, remain to be seen.

“The insurance industry has a key role to play in helping to ensure that access to the very best healthcare and drugs becomes a realistic choice for most people, not just the very few who can afford to pay for cancer drugs that can cost many tens of thousands of pounds.”

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Notes for Editors

1. Enquiries to:
Jonathan French 020 7216 7392 (Mobile: 07958 330 480)
Malcolm Tarling 020 7216 7410 (Mobile: 07776 147 667)
Erfan Hussain 020 7216 7411 (Mobile: 07712 841 184)
Kelly Ostler-Coyle 020 7216 7415 (Mobile: 07968 364 302)

2. The ABI is the voice of the insurance and investment industry. Its members constitute over 90 per cent of the insurance market in the UK and 20 per cent across the EU. They control assets equivalent to a quarter of the UK’s capital. They are the risk managers of the UK’s economy and society. Through the ABI their voice is heard in Government and in public debate on insurance, savings and investment matters.

3. An ISDN line is available for broadcasts.

Copies of all ABI news releases, together with other information from the Association, can be seen on our website http://www.abi.org.uk