15 December 2016 - The Scottish Government has published Dr Brian Montgomery’s Review of Access to New Medicines, which assesses the impact of the new approach introduced in 2014 by SMC and sets out how the process for appraising medicines can be made even more open, transparent and robust.

The review found SMC acceptance rates had increased following recent reforms, with the combined assessment rates for orphan/cancer medicines increasing from 48% between November 2011 and October 2013, to 75% between May 2014 and March 2016.

Launching the report, Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport, Shona Robison, said: “The reforms I am announcing today will help more patients to get better access to treatments that can give them longer, better quality lives. The Scottish Government, the SMC and the NHS have worked hard to reform access to new medicines.

Read SMC press release