In a joint open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Yvette Cooper, the coalition has urged the Government to support the Bill, introduced by Clive Jones MP, which aims to strengthen transparency and accountability in cancer care.
The Bill would require the Government to report annually to Parliament on progress against cancer targets, including those relating to prevention, diagnosis and treatment. It would also require the publication of a strategy to improve cancer outcomes.
Through greater transparency and accountability, the coalition hopes to ensure that government commitments lead to meaningful improvements for everyone affected by cancer.
Sarcoma UK’s Chief Executive Richard Davidson said: “This week’s VAT decision on compassionate access drugs shows what can happen when the cancer community keeps an issue in front of decision-makers. For people with rare sarcomas, annual reporting to Parliament on how research and innovation are delivering for patients would help make sure problems are spotted and acted on sooner, whoever is in government. We are proud to stand with more than 60 cancer organisations in asking the Government to back the Cancer (Reporting and Strategy) Bill.”
Read the full joint open letter here
