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Paying for new drugs and treatments is now the biggest challenge facing the NHS and society as a whole, a leading cancer specialist told The Scotsman. The huge number of therapies being developed by scientists means that the costs to the health service could sky-rocket in the coming years, according to Professor John Smyth from the University of Edinburgh.
The problem is being made worse by the current financial crisis, he added.
The expert's warnings came as concern continues to grow about current access to expensive treatments on the NHS in Scotland, and fears that decisions about which patients receive drugs are not being made fairly across the country.
Doctors and charities also called for more clarity and guidance from the Scottish Government to make sure everyone was given an equal chance of benefiting from expensive new treatments for cancer and other diseases.
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