From the article, the issue seems to be that there is a new NICE-approved
treatment for Hepatitis C (so I assume the cost/QUALY is within NICE
guidance.)
However, based on the number of patients NHSE thinks might be eligible,
20,000, the total estimated cost would be prohibitive and as a result wants
to delay implementation.
The internal briefing proposes more than halving the cost by prioritising
patients "according to severity of liver disease", and continuing to treat
patients with drugs NHS England accepts are less effective and can cause
serious side effects for many patients.
NHS England has become so concerned about the potential financial impact of
Sofosbuvir it has asked NICE to extend the deadline by which the NHS must
start to offer the new drug to patients, HSJ understands.
And
HSJ understands NHS England has asked for the extension while it waits for
other similar drugs to become available before deciding which ones to fund.
The briefing note said a "key aim is to maximise procurement levers and
ensure competition within the market to get best value for money on drug
pricing".
http://www.hsj.co.uk/news/finance/exclusive-nhs-england-could-curb-access-to
-nice-approved-drug/5075468.article?blocktitle=News&contentID=15303#.VC6b4xY
Z5jt
Money *is* tight - and this is not a cancer treatment drug - but is this
approach ethical, legal or expedient, seeing the same issue will apply for
other drugs an a frequent basis??
Mary Hawking
Will I be seeing you at the PHCSG Confernce on 9-10th October?
http://phcsg.org/agm-2014/
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