NHS cost-cutting raises fears for patient safety A fifth of new drugs will be rationed under tighter NHS cost-cutting plans, meaning that patients will suffer longer delays for medication. Sufferers of cancer, diabetes and asthma could have to queue for treatment as health chiefs are handed powers to restrict access to medicines to save money, even if they have been ruled cost-effective by doctors. Drug companies say that they will no longer launch drugs early in Britain if bureaucrats are given power to stop them from reaching patients for purely financial reasons. Campaigners warned that the plans would put Britain further behind the rest of Europe in offering cutting-edge therapies and more people would die while waiting for medicines. At present patients have a legal right to be treated with drugs that… Want to read more? Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.
The UK 's National Health Service is cutting costs by rationing a fifth of new medicines and campaigners have warned that this will put patients ' lives at risk as well as making them suffer longer delays for medication . Furthermore , pharmaceutical companies have said they will no longer launch drugs early in the UK if health chiefs are given the power to stop them getting to patients because of financial concerns . This move has put the country further behind other countries in offering the latest medicines and therapies .