Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether high-impact therapies that are the last line of curative potential for rare cancers are disadvantaged by standard appraisal models; and what plans they have to establish a dedicated review mechanism for such treatments.

The Department has no current plans to establish a dedicated review mechanism for rare cancer treatments. Most medicines, including for rare cancers, are assessed through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) standard technology appraisal programme, with a small number of treatments for very rare and severe conditions considered through the highly specialised technologies programme, which applies a higher cost effectiveness threshold.

NICE’s methods are suitable for evaluating treatment for rare cancers where prices are set fairly. NICE completed eight technology appraisals of medicines for the treatment of rare cancers between April 2025 and April 2026 and was able to recommend them all for some or all the eligible patient population.

We are also investing approximately 25% more in innovative treatments through an increase to NICE’s cost-effectiveness threshold and changes to how health benefits are valued. This will support access to medicines delivering significant health benefits, including for rare diseases, that may previously have been declined on cost-effectiveness grounds.