Access to treatment
The Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) gives people access to promising new medicines that are not yet licensed. This scheme applies to Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) runs the EAMS. The MHRA is a UK government organisation. It makes sure all medicines and equipment used in healthcare work and are safe.
To enter the scheme, the research into a new medicine needs to look promising. The medicine will have gone through phase 1 and 2 trials to look at its safety. It may also have gone through phase 3 trials.
Look at the phases of clinical trials
The company who makes the medicine can apply for a Promising Innovative Medicine (PIM) designation. They do it through the MHRA. The company gives the MHRA the results of available research on the medicine.
The PIM gives an early signal that the medicine may be a possible choice for the EAMS scheme. It might be able to help people who have no other treatment options.
The next stage is the scientific opinion. During this process, the MHRA decides whether doctors can prescribe a medicine.
The scientific opinion considers the risks and benefits of the medicine. This information comes from the patients who have had the medicine. It gives information for the doctor and patient.
A positive scientific opinion lasts for a year. The company can then apply to renew it.
If the scientific opinion is positive, the MHRA produces a public assessment report (PAR). This has information about:
how the medicine is used and how it works
summary of the key clinical studies
the risks and benefits of the medicine
the reason for the positive EAMS scientific opinion
any uncertainties
information about ongoing clinical studies
measures in place to check and manage risk
Look through the public assessment report (PAR) with your doctor. You can decide together if the treatment is the right choice for you.
Last reviewed: 04 Jan 2024
Next review due: 04 Jan 2027
Sometimes there are treatments which aren’t available on the NHS. There are other ways you might be able to access a treatment that isn’t available on the NHS.
Drugs go through a review process. This ensures they're safe, effective, and that the benefits outweigh possible side effects.
Once a medicine has a licence, organisations will decide if it should be available as part of free healthcare.
The Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) is a way of funding cancer drugs in England.
There are several decisions to be made about a cancer treatment before you can have it on the NHS or HSC.
Search for the cancer type you want to find out about. Each section has detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research and coping with cancer.
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What to ask your doctor about clinical trials.
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