Drug treatment for melanoma: progress, but who pays?

To the Editor: Kefford’s contention that making cancer drugs affordable requires coherent policy and cannot be left to market forces1 is correct.

Correspondence: sonia.fullerton@easternhealth.org.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Kefford RF. Drug treatment for melanoma: progress, but who pays? Med J Aust 2012; 197: 198-199. <MJA full text>
2. Pronovost PJ, et al. How can clinicians measure safety and quality in acute care? Lancet 2004; 363: 1061-1067.
3. Bruera E, Yennurajalingam S. Palliative care in advanced cancer patients: how and when? Oncologist 2012; 17: 267-73.
4. Temel JS, Greer JA, Muzikansky A, et al. Early palliative care for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. N Engl J Med 2010; 363: 733-742.
5. Palliative Care Australia. National Palliative Care Consensus Statement: a call to action. Canberra: PCA, 2011. http://www.palliativecare.org.au/Portals/46/PAL31612%20consensus%20 statement_newer%20style%203%20(2).pdf (accessed Oct 2012).

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