A senior Highlands clinician has welcomed the decision for new skin cancer treatment to be provided on the NHS.
Nivolumab was one of several drugs approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) in its latest round of assessments.
There was similar good news for diabetes sufferers who are poised to benefit from a previously-barred alternative insulin injection.
Campaigners welcomed the end of an “untenable” situation of patients north of the border being denied help available in England and Wales.
Gillian Nuttall, the founder of Melanoma UK, said the green light for Nivolumab would “bring new hope for patients”.
The drug is aimed at patients whose skin cancer has spread to other parts of the body and can’t be surgically removed.
Dr Walter Mmeka, consultant medical oncologist at the Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, said: “Nivolumab has demonstrated its potential to increase survival rates in this devastating disease, which is the ultimate goal of treatment for clinicians, patients and their families.”
Diabetes UK also welcomed the move to bring Scotland in line with England and Wales by approving insulin degludec, which is sold as Tresiba.
The charity’s deputy head of care Douglas Twenefour said: “This insulin will give clinicians and people with diabetes another useful tool to help maximise blood glucose control, reducing the risk of long-term diabetes complications, while minimising the risk of hypoglycaemia.
“As with any new medication, the use of Tresiba should be discussed between the person with diabetes and their healthcare professional to decide whether it is the best choice for them.”
