MSPs unveil cancer inquiry remit

Mr Gray was angry about the cancer costs he faced

The availability of cancer drugs on the NHS is to be investigated by Holyrood's petitions committee.

It follows the case of a terminally-ill Buckie man who had to pay thousands of pounds to fund his treatment.

NHS Grampian eventually agreed to pay for drug treatment for 53-year-old Michael Gray, who suffers from bowel cancer.

Cancer sufferers have been urged to get in touch with the committee if they have had a similar experience.

Mr Gray told MSPs that he had to pay for the drug cetuximab himself because it had not been approved by his local health board, NHS Grampian.

The board later agreed to meet the costs. Doctors have now had to stop treating Mr Gray, after he was told his cancer had spread.

We hope to bring clarity and assistance to cancer sufferers Frank McAveety Committee convener

MSPs announced last month that they would hold a short inquiry into the case.

They have now announced the remit, which includes looking at the roles played by various agencies in assessing whether a cancer treatment drug is made available on the NHS.

The committee will also examine whether there are any anomalies in the current prescribing regime and whether cancer sufferers and those with other life-threatening conditions are treated equally in terms of the availability of drugs and treatment.

Committee convener Frank McAveety said: "We hope to bring clarity and assistance to those cancer sufferers who may have experienced similar issues to those faced by Mr Gray."

MSPs hope to hear evidence from those affected in April and to produce a report before the summer.