Are high cost drug funding mechanisms fit for purpose? ‐ A retrospective study of Individual Funding Requests in an NHS tertiary hospital
Review of 230 IFRs reported a decline rate of 71% by NHS England and 34%, by a CCG. Lack of exceptionality was the primary reason and half of patients whose IFR was declined received treatment funded through other routes, the majority from internal hospital budget.
Source:
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
SPS commentary:
Authors note the high rate of declines suggests and inefficient use of the IFR process. They urge towards an outcomesâbased evaluation approach to commissioning and greater transparency of previous funding decisions by commissioners may improve efficiency and equity in the IFR system.