NICE 'no' for pulmonary fibrosis drug

Comments 5

1. Janet Drysdale 29 Nov

   Why is it that this drug is cost effective in Europe but not in the UK?  it is time that we took the pharmaceutical companies to task for the outrageous costs they pass on to us, that are not borne by other countries.  This drug is seemingly effective in Europe. There are thousands of patients with IPF in this country who want and deserve a chance at a longer life. I would ask that NICE and NHS renegotiate the price so that it is available to any IPF patient in the UK who wants it.  Too many have already died waiting for a drug like this to come on the market. 

2. Shirley Caulfield 29 Nov

   Is it because IPF is incurable?  Is this why it won't be licensed?  Surely if one life only can be lengthened by a few months, a year or two, is it not then worth while?  I get the impression that this is all about costs.  NICE are thinking 'why bother/ if it isn't going to SAVE lives in the long run.  No point in wasting money.
   
   from an IPF sufferer with maybe a year or two left to live, who has led a healthy life and was looking forward to growing old gracefully and watching the grandchildren grow up.
   YOU tell me what comes next!

3. John Woods 29 Nov

   This is what happens when the government controls health care.  Some government employee will make decisions that effect your life.  They choose the winner and losers and decide how much longer you should live and the quality of life you have until dealth.  When the government picks winners and losers we all have a problem.

4. Dawn Clarke 30 Nov

   I agree with Janet Drysdale it is time that NICE & The National Health service were able to negotiate a decent price for this and other drugs, at least on a par with the rest of Europe. However the fact that people who have no idea what this condition is like, and how it effects  us should be allowed to make these possibly life changing decisions, is nothing short of criminal. I wish I could put them in my shoes if only for a few days/weeks I feel they may have a completely different view of the situation.

5. Patricia Macnamara 03 Dec

   Sorry I dont think Janet is correct in assuming the drug companies are trying to charge a higher price in the UK than other European countries.
   
   Drug prices are increasingly transparent around Europe and NICE will have been told by the drug company what the prices are in other countries.
   
   I think it is that NICE doesn't want to pay the same price that other governments are willing to pay to help sufferers of this disease.
   
   It will undoubtedly be expensive as this is a rare disease and few patients will ever need this drug, but NICE looks at the cost per patient to decide whether they think it is worth it, not the overall cost to the NHS, which in this case will be minimal each year. 

Post a comment