MSPs are facing calls to bring in a more flexible system for introducing drugs amid concerns that doctors are too conservative when making prescriptions.
Medical professionals from Cancer Research UK, Scottish Cancer Research Network, the Scottish Melanoma Group, Melanoma Action and Support Scotland, the Beatson Cancer Centre, the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer, Macmillan Cancer Support, Myeloma UK and Prostate Cancer UK will give evidence to Holyrood's Health and Sport Committee.
In a submission to the committee, Cancer Research UK called for equal access to drugs proven to be effective, regardless of where patients live.
"We know that the UK is often slower than other comparable countries to introduce new technologies to the NHS. There are several reasons for this," it states.
"The current process of approval, through the Scottish Medicines Consortium (and Nice elsewhere in the UK) is one part of this.
"Doctors in the UK are also considered to be more conservative in their prescribing habits than their colleagues overseas."
The charity also predicts that cancer drugs will place an increasing strain on the NHS in the future.
"It takes an average of 12 years and over £500 million investment to bring one new drug to patients," the submission states. Companies also generally price cancer drugs at higher levels than those in other therapeutic areas where more competition exists.
"The strain on the NHS budget from new cancer drugs is likely to increase as future best practice focuses on using combinations of newer, more expensive treatments.
"Due to improvements in research, treatments are becoming much more targeted and tailored to individual cancers. Treating only those patients who might benefit, and reducing unnecessary side-effects, could mean greater value for money for the NHS."
