§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of beta interferon in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) other EU member states and (c) the United States; and if he will make a statement on the factors underlying the cost in each country. [129244]
§ Ms StuartThe annual cost per patient of the betainterferons in the United Kingdom is £9,320 (Betaferon), £9,490 (Avonex), £9,090 (lower dose of Rebif) and £12,070 (higher dose of Rebif).
The Department has made no studies of the cost of treatment in different countries. As far as the prices of the beta interferon medicines are concerned, the Department has information both from the manufacturers and from contacts in the health authorities of other countries. Direct comparisons of prices of products of this type are misleading because they are often supplied direct to hospitals, making list prices less significant. Furthermore, some countries include distribution costs and some aspects of care within the list price while others account for them separately.
Subject to these qualifications, it can be said that in general the annual cost of beta interferons in the UK is slightly greater than in other EU countries, reflecting currency movements since the products were introduced.
575W
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the guidance issued to health authorities on the use of beta interferons in multiple sclerosis pending further guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. [130246]
§ Mr. DenhamUntil guidance is available from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence, the guidance issued by the Department in 1995, Executive Letter (95) 97, continues to apply.