Call for debate on drug bias towards young

THE head of Scotland's drug watchdog has called for a debate on whether the latest medicines should be given to younger patients over the elderly.

Dr Ken Paterson, chairman of the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) – which advises health boards on which new treatments to prescribe – said the issue needed to be openly discussed.

He described a number of events where audiences were asked to choose between two medicines of equal cost and effectiveness, but which helped patients at different stages of life.

The doctor said: "Every audience has always voted to buy the drug for a young person. The evidence is people are willing to be ageist. The question is, is that a right or a wrong thing?"

The SMC has already advised that some cancer drugs should only be given to patients with a good quality of life, he went on.

He now thinks a debate should be opened in Scotland on the topic.