Welsh Labour Government launch £80 million New Treatment Fund

When I was elected, the people of Cynon Valley were voting not just for me, but also for Welsh Labour’s manifesto pledges. This is why I am delighted by the launch of the Welsh Labour Government’s £80m ‘New Treatment Fund’, which promises speedier access to new medicines.

The fund was a key promise in Labour’s manifesto for last year’s Assembly election and it intends to help remove the time lag and uncertainties around funding for new treatments in the future.

New medicines and treatments are being developed constantly to treat a huge range of conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancers, epilepsy, heart disease and HIV. This fund will help residents to access these treatments sooner.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said, “New medicines and treatments are being discovered, developed and tested on an almost weekly basis, offering the hope of a cure or a better quality of life for people with a range of life-threatening illnesses. This significant investment will help remove uncertainties around funding for new treatments in the future and help the Welsh NHS prepare sustainable plans for the introduction of new medicines.”

I welcome this strengthening of our Welsh NHS. This is a major step in the right direction.