Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who his Department and NHS England have consulted on the implementation of a fast track interim policy for hepatitis C patients from April 2015.

NHS England has advised that it is considering extending the current interim commissioning policy for Sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir (Harvoni) and another direct acting antiviral combination therapy for selected patients with cirrhosis associated with hepatitis C. The Department is not involved in this decision.

NHS England has completed the evidence review and finalised its draft proposals. In doing so, it has engaged with clinical and patient stakeholders from the national lead Clinical Reference Group. NHS England has advised that the aim is that interim commissioning policies will be in place by the first half of 2015.