Best Healthcare Policy Programme

Summary of work

Rarer cancers has gone from being an afterthought to an exemplar of health policy as a result of this programme, being prioritised in a way which would have been unthinkable a few years before.

Through the scrupulous collection and publication of evidence and careful alignment with the NHS reforms, a series of big wins for patients have been secured. New awareness programmes, a ground-breaking programme to develop clinical information on the use of off-label drugs and a Cancer Drugs Fund, which has benefited over 10,000 patients, are all direct results of this innovative policy programme.

Judges comments

A very well laid out report that engaged a diverse range of stakeholders and made good use of research and was followed up with an effective media coverage campaign.