MHK queries whether drug policy is applied on a 'whim'

Fri, 22 Jul 2016

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Concerns have been raised that government is being inconsistent when it comes to funding drugs on the Isle of Man.

In Tynwald this week a number of MHKs queried if National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidelines were being used on a "whim".

It came after the Health and Social Care Minister confirmed his department would not be funding Translarna - a drug which can help young sufferers of Duchene Muscular Dystrophy.

Howard Quayle says it's not possible to fund everything requested adding it was a "highly complex case" as NICE has given access to it under a managed access programme as part of a five year trial.

Onchan MHK Peter Karran questioned whether it was a change of policy on behalf of the department: