END TO DRUG ‘APARTHEID’

MORE Scots patients could get the drugs they need in an overhaul of the way new treatments are approved.

Health Secretary Alex Neil has ordered a shake-up of the Scottish Medicines Consortium after warnings of a ‘medical apartheid’ system, with Scots often refused drugs that are available in England. Mr Neil wants to make the system more transparent, with more public involvement in the process.

A £20million Rare Medicines Fund, launched earlier this year, will also be extended to 2016 to help fund treatments for rare conditions.