ALIMTA AND TREATMENT FOR MESOTHELIOMA SUFFERERS

That this House is aware that the anti-cancer drug Alimta is enormously beneficial in the treatment of mesothelioma tumours; recalls that sufferers in Scotland and parts of England and Wales have had access to the drug via cancer networks and primary care trusts; is therefore alarmed that the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has indicated that it is not minded to recommend Alimta for prescription to patients despite its known efficacy; and calls on the Government to ignore such advice, which deals mainly with NICE's narrow definition of cost effectiveness rather than the clinical needs of sufferers.