§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action his Department will undertake to ensure that primary care trusts fund the treatment of patients suffering from predominantly classic CNV associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) within the context of the clinical studies recommended in the Final Appraisal Determination of photodynamic therapy for AMD issued by NICE; [98632]
(2) when his Department returned photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration to NICE; and when final guidance is expected; [98633]
(3) what his Department's estimate is of the number of patients who, according to the product licence, should have been eligible for treatment for AMD during the clinical studies. [98634]
§ Mr. LammyWe have asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to carry out an appraisal of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a treatment for age-related macular degeneration. It has not yet published any guidance to the National Health Service on this topic. NICE prepared its Final Appraisal Determination on Photodynamic Therapy and circulated it to consultees 691W on 16 January. We understand this document has been appealed against. NICE will now consider any appeals before publishing its final guidance.
Once guidance has been published, NHS bodies are obliged to make the ncessary funding available so that patients can receive treatments recommended by NICE, if recommended by the clinician.
A recent study sponsored by the Macular Disease Society estimated that there were currently 182,000 suffering from age-related macular degeneration with a best eye visual acuity below that judged appropriate for certification as blind or partially sighted. The study forecast that this number would increase to 194,000 by 2008. We are unable to estimate exactly how many patients may benefit from photodynamic therapy until NICE has completed its appraisal of the therapy.