Northern Ireland has no approval process for certain drugs available in England, Scotland and Wales. Jim Allister MP cited a constituent unable to obtain Zytiga, approved there for men with non-metastatic prostate cancer through a special commissioning route.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has not issued a UK-wide decision on Zytiga for this use. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt noted that the other UK nations have organisations to decide on such drugs, while Northern Ireland does not.

Nesbitt said his department is reviewing workforce infrastructure to assess requirements for improving local drug decision-making. The department's Strategic Planning and Performance Group addresses some related issues but does not usually commission drugs awaiting NICE approval.

This group replaced the former Health and Social Care Board, which ex-DUP minister Simon Hamilton abolished due to efficiency concerns and integrated into the Department of Health.

Nesbitt stated that recent recruitment has filled positions vacated by staff departures or retirements. He added that costs for expanded drug approval processes require evaluation given the health service's financial pressures.