Value of early access to new medicines questioned by NCPE (opens original article in a new tab)

The head of the NCPE has expressed concerns over early access to new medicines, arguing that they should be assessed for value for money before being approved, as they can have a significant budget impact.

• NCPE director opposes early access to new medicines if not assessed first.
• Early access to drugs with limited efficacy could add €1-€3.5bn to the drugs budget in 5-8 years.
• Pharmaceutical companies are cited as the main source of delays in drug approval.