Local AM hails year of success for Treatment Fund

David Rees, Aberavon’s Assembly Member, has welcomed the success of the £80m New Treatment Fund in slashing the times new life-changing medicines become available on the NHS in Wales.  The fund was one of Welsh Labour s key pledges at the 2016 Assembly elections.

This week marks a year since the introduction of the new Fund and the Welsh Government has revealed the average time for recommended new medicines to be made available was now only 10 days, way ahead of the 60 day deadline originally set, and an 81% improvement on the times 12 months ago.

Mr Rees said: “It is great news that patients in Aberavon and across Wales are benefiting from the Treatment Fund and that it has had such a positive impact on the availability of treatments and medicines. The Welsh Government moved quickly to implement this manifesto pledge and we are really seeing the benefits in the first year.”

“I look forward to seeing the fund continuing to promptly deliver the latest, innovative medicines to patients who need them, making a real difference to their lives.”