According to the Karolinska Institute of Sweden, the UK managed only 53% five-year female cancer survival, compared to 71% for France, Spain 64% and in Germany and Italy 63%.
For men, France recorded 53% survival, Spain 50% and Germany 53%. The UK was lower at 43%.
Percentages were taken on the yardstick of five years' survival from time of diagnosis and excluded cases of non-melanoma skin cancer, which responds well to treatment.
The researchers suggest that lack of access to a new wave of expensive drugs could be impeding survival in Britain. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) needs to speed up its review system so that patients in England and Wales are not denied drugs available elsewhere, they add. Nice is currently blocking 11 drugs than have been licensed and are available in many European countries, including some in Scotland.
A few weeks ago, insurer WPA launched a plan to give people up to £50,000 cover against the cost of licensed cancer drugs that have not received Nice approval. mycancerdrugs is inexpensive at an annual premium of one's age plus five per cent insurance premium tax.
There are many exclusions, including an age cut off at 65. Those who have had cancer are excluded as well as those who have a parent or sibling who developed the disease before age 60.
In many cases, cancer patients with private medical insurance will be covered for licensed products that have not received Nice approval.
A recent report from the Stockholm School of Economics and the Karolinska Institute identifies Austria, France, Switzerland and the United States as leaders in the uptake of new cancer drugs, but reveals the uptake in the UK is "low and slow".
Private medical insurance: News update: June 2007
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