Better Late than Never for Sensible Drugs Approval Process

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Oct 2006

In answer to questions from Jenny Randerson, AM for Cardiff Central, Brian Gibbons today announced In Health and Social Services Committee that an agreement between Scottish Medicines Consortium and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group has been reached regarding the drugs approval process.

Welsh Lib Dem Health spokesperson Jenny Randerson AM said "I welcome Brian Gibbon's announcement that an agreement has been reached between the Scottish Medicines Consortium and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group.

"It is a victory for common sense that they deal with drugs which NICE are not planning to deal with in the next 18 months and that they split the workload to avoid duplication.

"It is also good news that they are now going to accept each others recommendations. Where appropriate it is important that we work with Scotland, England and Northern Ireland to save costs and speed up the workings of government.

"This decision means that the successful Welsh Liberal Democrat motion which was the first to be debated in the new Senedd last February, has now borne fruit. It is excellent news for all patients who might benefit from new drugs."