§ Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales which area health authorities in Wales fund the prescription of the drug Donepezil Hydrochloride (Aricept) to treat Alzheimer's disease. [71486]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesGenerally, Health Authorities do not set aside funding for specific drugs, whether these are prescribed by GPs or by hospital doctors.
On 29 May 1998 the Chief Medical Officer circulated to clinicians and pharmacists in Wales the advice of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee that treatment with Donepezil should be initiated and supervised only by a specialist experienced in the management of dementia, that the benefit should be assessed at 12 weeks, and that treatment should continue only for those patients who have benefited from its use.
There is, therefore, no Departmental prohibition on the use of Donepezil in Wales but Health Authorities have to consider its use in the light of their locally determined priorities. The Dyfed Powys Health Authority has set up 177W a formal referral system and Iechyd Morgannwg Health have decided to treat patients within the protocol of a randomised control trial. The Gwent, North Wales and Bro Taf Health Authorities are reconsidering their position and are expected shortly to propose formal arrangements for the use of Donepezil in their areas.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.