Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to NHS England's publications Biological Medicines Commissioning Framework published on 12 September 2017 and What is a Biosimilar Medicine published on 24 September 2015, what steps he has taken to ensure that patients in England will have the right to an informed discussion and consultation with their clinician before a decision is made to switch them from their existing biologic treatment to a biosimilar treatment.

NHS England is clear that treatment decisions should always be made first on the basis of clinical judgement and through shared decision making with individual patients. Where a decision is taken to switch a patient from their existing biologic treatment to a biosimilar treatment, strong safeguards are required to ensure that patients who have responded well to existing medicine are closely monitored to ensure efficacy and safety.

NHS England is working closely with patient groups to develop patient material which will help patients to have informed discussions with a clinician. NHS England met with a number of patient groups in August 2017 to discuss biosimilar medicines and is committed to continuing a collaborative working relationship. NHS England recognises patient groups have an important role to play as advocates for biosimilar medicines and in the process, provide peer to peer support for patients.

NHS England is also working with NHS Choices to ensure the availability of biosimilars related information to support patients to make informed decisions about switching, and help patients understand what biosimilar medicines are. NHS Choices are updating their current biological medicine content to align with NHS England's commissioning framework.