Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects nivolumab to be available to NHS melanoma patients.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing technology appraisal guidance on the use of nivolumab (Opdivo) for the treatment of melanoma.

In the absence of guidance from NICE, it is for commissioners to make decisions on whether to fund new medicines based on an assessment of the available evidence.

We take the issue of ensuring rapid access to innovative therapies very seriously, which is why we have launched an Accelerated Access Review to make recommendations to Government on speeding up access for National Health Service patients to innovative and cost effective new medicines, diagnostics and medical technologies.