NICE finally caves in
07.11.13
NICE and the UK Department of Health will not admit that NICE is up for major reform. But I can tell you things will change in the UK. The UK government, and my colleagues at ABPI, the industry’s national association, this week announced an agreement for a new 5-year Pharmaceutical Pricing Regulation Scheme (PPRS) agreement. It will provide the government financial stability and help patients by improved uptake of new products.
In the fine print you will find something quite significant, with impact beyond the UK: reform of NICE criteria for appraisals of cost-effectiveness. NICE will add “burden of illness” criteria and also take into account societal costs and benefits in its appraisals. This is welcome and reflects a general trend in many countries to broaden the understanding of “value”.
One often-used example is the biological agents for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). By introducing TNF-agents at the early onset of RA, such as at the age of 40, patients can carry on with a normal life, working and contributing to the economy until normal retirement. There is clear evidence that an increased cost for the health service in paying for new medicines is offset by benefits to society at large.
NICE is now obliged to propose practical models and to launch a public consultation. This is good news for patients in the UK – and beyond – that have suffered from NICE-inspired rationing.
