I WHOLEHEARTEDLY endorse your correspondent Jane Armitage (Oxford Mail, yesterday) in urging Oxfordshire’s MPs to support the Off-patent Drugs Bill which will be voted on in Parliament in November.

I hope they will lend their support to this vital piece of legislation which could benefit hundreds of thousands of patients across the UK.

Supported by Breast Cancer Now, the Bill is designed to address the problem of making drugs that have fallen out of patent, but have since proved effective for clinical uses outside their original licence, routinely available on the NHS.

If it successfully enters UK law, it will improve access to low-cost treatments for a range of conditions including breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s.

Today's Letters

For it to progress a step closer to becoming law, 100 MPs need to turn up and vote in its favour on November 6.

Neglecting the clinical benefits of off-patent drugs is a huge oversight, especially as these drugs tend to be very low-cost.

Given the budgetary constraints on the NHS, surely this is exactly the type of opportunity that decision-makers should be embracing. Please join us and add your support to Breast Cancer Now’s Unlock Drugs campaign – visit breastcancernow.org/unlockdrugs

ROSWITHA REED

Hampden Avenue,

Thame