New cancer drugs are constantly being developed

Four health boards said they could not afford the new drug, Velcade.

A specialist at Belfast City Hospital, where the drug was tested, said the condition of up to 20 patients each year could be improved with Velcade.

The drug is used to fight myeloma, a cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow.

Consultant oncologist Dr Curly Morris described Velcade as a fascinating new drug which was a "further step forward" in the battle against myeloma.

"It is capable of further improving both the length and quality of survival of these patients and we are anxious that Northern Ireland patients should get hold of this drug in the way that patients in Northern America, Europe and elsewhere are getting it," he said.

Too expensive

"We have been very impressed with its action used alone and even more impressed when used with other drugs."

Dr Morris said funding for Velcade was not available at the moment because it "was too expensive".

He said the drug was available in England and the Republic of Ireland and had just been approved for use in Scotland.

Department of Health spokesman Philip Maguire said Velcade was one of a number of new drugs being tested in the fight against cancer.

"This specific drug is not universally available in England as suggested ... Wales has only just approved funding of the drug.

"In Northern Ireland it is one of a number of cancer drugs which are under discussion for use here," he said.