§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the health authorities in England and Wales that are awaiting a decision from NICE on rituximab before they will make this drug available for the treatment of eligible patients with follicular lymphoma; [3277]
(2) when the next Appraisal Committee of NICE to review draft guidance on the use of rituximab for the treatment of follicular lymphoma will meet: [3272]
(3) when the appeal against the appraisal by NICE on the use of rituximab for the treatment of follicular lymphoma was heard; when the appeal board decided to uphold the appeal; and when this decision was announced; [3271]
(4) when NICE will issue guidance on the use of rituximab for the treatment of follicular lymphoma; [3274]
(5) what assessment he has made of the length of time between the decision to uphold the appeal against the appraisal by NICE on the use of rituximab for the treatment of follicular lymphoma and the next review of draft guidance by the Appraisal Committee of NICE: and if he will make a statement. [3273]
§ Ms Blears[holding answers 11 July 2001]: Appeals are a part of the process used by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence for developing robust and reliable guidance. Details of the process for a particular treatment are a matter for the Institute. However, we understand that an appeal panel heard appeals against the final appraisal determination on the use of rituximab for the treatment of follicular lymphoma on 21 May 2001 and that the panel's decision was forwarded to the Institute on 27 June 2001. The panel's decision was distributed to consultees on 28 June and was published on the Institute's website on 2 July.
The appraisal committee will review its final appraisal determination on rituximab for follicular lymphoma in the light of the appeal panel's decision and recommendations.
603WIt was asked to do so on 27 June when the Institute received the appeal panel's final decision. The date on which it will meet to review its final appraisal determination is to be confirmed, as is the proposed date the Institute will issue its guidance. We understand that when these dates are agreed they will be published on the Institute's website in line with normal practice.
The length of time between the decision to uphold the appeal and the next review of draft guidance is a matter for the National Institute. It is aware that the final guidance should be issued as soon as possible but that due process should be followed.
We do not hold a central list of the authorities who are awaiting a decision from the Institute on rituximab before they will make this drug available. However, we expect that health authorities will continue arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies, in line with Health Service Circular 1999/176 issued in August 1999, copies of which are available in the Library.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he intends to give to health authorities following the appeal upheld against the appraisal by NICE on the use of rituximab for the treatment of follicular lymphoma and prior to formal guidance being issued by NICE. [3275]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 11 July 2001]: None. We issued Health Service Circular 1999/176 in August 1999. It asks National Health Service bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is not available at the time the technology first becomes available. It also advises that these arrangements should involve an assessment of all the available evidence.