By Reevel Alderson
BBC Scotland's social affairs correspondent
The NHS in Scotland could be reimbursed for the cost of a new hepatitis drug if sufferers fail to clear the virus.
The novel proposal was revealed after the drug Olysio was cleared for use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).
The drug's manufacturer claims the move would help cut prescribing costs.
It is estimated Scotland wastes up to £44m each year on medicines for all conditions that are unused, ineffective or are taken incorrectly.
The 'Pay If You Clear' scheme would come into effect if patients treated with the drug do not become free of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) after 12 weeks.
SMC has approved the drug, whose generic name is simeprevir, for use within NHS Scotland. The 'Pay If You Clear' scheme is awaiting a formal decision by NHS Scotland.
Appropriate treatment
The drug will be used to treat patients with chronic HCV infection, including those for whom treatment has previously failed.
The manufacturer, Janssen, will pay for pre-treatment blood tests for patients to predict whether the drug is likely to be effective before treatment is initiated.
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