Judicial Review decision for Alzheimer’s Society
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The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has been ordered to change the way it assesses Alzheimer's patients, in the first judicial review of its decisions. |  |
Monday, 13, Aug 2007 12:00
People with Alzheimer’s disease and their carers will discover today (Friday 10 August) whether they have won unrestricted access to crucial drug treatments following a two-year campaign.
The wait will be over when the Honourable Mrs Justice Dobbs hands down her ruling on access to Alzheimer’s drugs on the NHS at 10.30am at the Royal Courts of Justice.
The Alzheimer’s Society joined the first ever legal challenge against the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) last month, after the body ruled people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease should be denied drugs on the NHS. Campaigners believe the process used by NICE to reach the decision was fatally flawed.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
In March 2005, NICE, the government body which produces guidance on which drug treatments should be funded by the NHS, ruled four drug treatments licensed for Alzheimer's disease (Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl and Ebixa) should no longer be funded by the NHS. It acknowledged that three drugs were clinically effective, but stated that they were not cost effective. Following an unprecedented response NICE changed its position to allow only people only in the moderate stages of the disease access to drug treatments. Following an unsuccessful appeal to an internal review body the Alzheimer’s Society challenged the decision in the high court.
Pfizer/Eisai, manufacturer of Aricept, is the lead claimant in this judicial review. The Alzheimer’s Society acted as one of a number of separate interested parties in this challenge. Its legal team represented the interests of people with dementia and their carers and raised additional arguments.
The Alzheimer’s Society does not accept funding or any other support from the pharmaceutical industry for its campaign on access to Alzheimer’s drug treatments. Click here for details of the Alzheimer’s Society pharmaceutical policy .
Further information about the campaign can be viewed at http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/News_and_Campaigns/Campaigning/accesstodrugs.htm
Nice guidance applies to England and Wales. People currently on the drug treatments will continue to receive them.
1 in 3 older people will end their lives with a form of dementia.
700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer’s disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051. 1 in 5 people over 80 have dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and those who care for them. The Alzheimer’s Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
As a charity, the Alzheimer’s Society depends on the generosity of the public to help it care, research and campaign for people with dementia. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting www.alzheimers.org.uk .
The Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Helpline number is 0845 300 0336 or visit www.alzheimers.org.uk