[News] Rare Cancers Bill to become law in UK

On February 27, 2026, the UK Parliament voted to enact the Rare Cancers Bill into law, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at accelerating research and improving treatments and survival outcomes for patients with rare cancers, including brain tumours and pancreatic cancer. The bill was introduced by Scott Arthur, a Labour Party Member of Parliament from Scotland and a practising medical doctor. The new law arrives at a strategically significant moment, coinciding with the launch of two major government initiatives — the National Cancer Plan for England and the England Rare Diseases Action Plan 2026. Together, these efforts signal a strengthened commitment by the UK government to address longstanding disparities in funding and clinical progress for rare cancer types.